XXV. Further, they dissent from the church of Rome touching the order

and manner of the proceeding of the Holy Ghost.
These articles, wherein is declared the difference between the east and west church, of the Grecians and Romans, as I found them articu- lated and collected in an ancient and authentic register of the church of Hereford, so I thought here to insert them, and leave them to the consideration of the reader. Other four articles more in the same register be there expressed concerning simony and usury, not with them forbidden ; and touching also their emperor ; and how they teach their children to hurt or damnify, by any manner of way, the Latin priests, &c. ; which articles, for that either they seem not truly collected out of their teachings, or else not greatly pertinent to the doctrine of religion, I overpass them. To the purpose now of our story again.
When certain of these above prefixed were moved in the aforesaid Anscim
*■ ,_ *pi *^ Stout
council to be discussed, namely conccrnmg the assertion ot the pro- thampion ceeding of the Holy Ghost, and concerning leavened bread in the f^e 'Srl- ministration of the Lord's supper, Anselm, as is above said, was called "^n**- for, who, in the tractation of the same articles, so bestirred him in that council, that he well liked the pope and them about him, as mine author recordeth. Whereupon, touching the matter of unleavened bread, how indifferently he seemed there to reason, and what he writeth to Waltram, or Valerame, bishop of Naumburg, thereof ye shall hear by a piece of his letter sent to the said bishop, the copy whereof here ensueth.
Anselm, servant to the church of Canterbury, to AValtram, bishop of
Naumburg.^
As concerning the sacrifice in which the Grecians think not as we do, it seemeth to many reasonable Catholic men, that which they do not to be against the christian faith ; for both he that sacrificeth unleavened and leavened, sacri- ficeth bread. And where it is read of our Lord (when he made his body of bread) that he took bread and blessed, it is not added unleavened or leavened. Yet it is certain that he blessed unleavened bread, peradventure not because the
(1) This article seemeth not to be rightly collected out of the Grecians.
(2) Ex Epist. Anselm. 325, post initiuni. [See note in Appentiix on p. 155.— F-n.j
152
Tin; GRECIANS EXCOMMUNICATKD.
William tiling tliat was done required lliat, but because tlie supper in wliicli this was ^"■f"'- done did give that. And wliere in anotlier place he calleth himself and his A. D. ^'^'*'' bread, because that as man liveth temporally with this bread, so with that 1098. ^'"'■'"^ '"-' liveth ior evir — lie saith not unleavened nor leavened, because both
alike are bread ; lor unleavened and leavened differ not in substance, as some
think: like as a new man before sin, and an old man rooted in the leaven of sin
dilier not in substance. For this cause only, therefore, he might be tliought to
call himself and his flesh bread, and to have made his body of bread, because
Bread in 'I'*'' ^'"^ bread, unleavened or leavened, givetli a transitory life ; and his body
the com- giveth everlasting life, not for that it is either leavened or unleavened. Although
•"•">'"" it be a commandment in the law to eat unleavened bread iji the Passover, where
leavcni-a "'^ things are done in a figure, that it might be declared that Christ, whom they
it not lie- looked for, was pure and clean ; and we that should eat his body were admo-
ce»»ary. njshed to be hkewise pure from all leaven of malice and wickedness : yet now
after we arc come from the old figure to the new truth, and eat the unleavened
flesh of Christ, that old figure in bread, of which we make that flesh, is not
necessary for us. J5ut manifest it is, to be better sacrificed of imlcavened than
of leavened, &c.
To this letter I have also adjoined another epistle of his to the said Waltrani, appertaining to matters not mueh unlike; wherein the vtu-icty and divers usages of the sacraments in the church are treated of; wiiereby such as call and cry so much for uniformity in the church, may note, pcradvcnture, in the same something for their l)etter under- standing.
Part of another Letter of Anselm to the said Waltram, Bishop of
Naumburg. '
To the reverend father and his friend Waltram, by the grace of God, the worshipful bishop of Naumburg, Anselm, the servant of the church of Canterbury, greeting, &c.
Your worship comjilaineth of the sacraments of the church, that they are not
made every where after one sort, but are handled in divers places after divers
sorts. And truly if they were ministered after one sort, and agreeing through
Diversity the whole church, it were good and laudable. Yet, notwithstanding, because
Tn Uie''''^ ^^'^'■^ ^^ "^^"y
church to strength of it, or in the faith, or else can be gathered into one custom, I think
be^borne that they are rather to be home with in agreement of peace, than to be con-
pcacc. ra-
thcr than of charity be kept in the catholic faith, the diversity of customs hurteth nothing.
^1 wfth"" ^"* ^^ ^^ ^'^ demanded whereof this diversity of customs doth spring, I perceive
oiTence. "p other cause thereof but the diversity of men's wits, which, although they
differ not in strength and tnith of the thing, yet they agree not in the fitness
and comeliness of the ministering : for that Avhich one judgeth to be meeter,
oftentimes another thinketh less meet ; wherefore, not to agree in such diversities,
I think it not to swerve from the tnith of the thing, Sec.
Kxconi- Then in the story it followcth, after long debating and discussing tiondc ot tliese matters m the councd, when they had given forth their nounccd determination upon the same, and the pope had blasted out liis ""^.s'T "'^"^^^""g excommunications against the Grecians, and all that took also ' their part, at Icjigth were brought in the complaints and accusa- edS's, l"»'^ ••'gamst the king of England, upon the hearing whereof, Pope KinfiWii- Lrl>an, with his adlicrcnts, was ready to proceed in excommunication against the king ; but Anselm, kneeling before the pope, after he
(1) Kx Epist. Anselm. 327.
VACILLATING CONDUCT OF THE POPE. \')5
liad first accused liis king, then afterwards obtained for liini longer »'iitiitm time to be given upon fiirtlier trial. nujus.
Thus the council breaking up, the pope returned again to Rome, A. D. directing down his letters to the king, and commanding him that _^"'^^- Anselm, with all his partakers, in speedy wise should be revested ^'"^^ again in his archbishopric, and all other possessions thereunto appcr- head, ami taining. To this the king scndeth answer again by messengers, who, him a*''"" coming to the pope, declared in the king's behalf on this wise. That p'^'^"-'''- the king, their master, did not a little marvel what came into his mind to command Anselm to be revested and reseized again into his former archbishopric ; seeing he told him before plainly, that if he went out of England without his leave, he would so do unto him. " Well," saith the pope, " have ye no other matter against Anselm but only this ?" " No," quoth they. "And have ye taken all this travail,"" saith the pope, "to come hither so far to tell me this, that the primate of your country is therefore disseized and dispossessed, because he hath appealed to the see and judgment apostolical ? Therefore, Aloud if thou lovest thy lord, speed thee home and tell him, if he Avill not H^^^aJx, be excommunicated, that he quickly revest Anselm again in all that i*"' "'"^- lie had before. And lest I make thee to be hanged for thy labour, thutuier- look to thy term, and see that thou bring me answer again from him ^°"' into this city against the next council, the third week after Easter." The messenger, or speaker, being somewhat astonied at the hearing of this so tragical answer, thinking yet to work something for his king and master, came secretly to the pope, saying, that he would confer a certain mystery from his king privately with his holiness, a bribing between them two. What mystery that was, or what there passed '^H'^'^^ from the king to the pope and the court of Rome, mine author does at Rome. not show ; but so cunningly that mystery was handled, that, with a fiJl consent, both of the pope and all the court of Rome, a longer day was given, fi-om Easter to Michaelmas ; and the pope's choleric heat so assuaged, that when the council came, which then was holden optimus at St. Peter's church in Rome, albeit great complaints were then eus" uum- denounced against the king, yet such favour was found, that he took ^"h^*^^* no harm ; only the sentence of excommunication was there pro- councUof nounced against such lay persons as gave investiture of churches, and them that were so invested ; also, against them that consecrated such, or which gave themselves in subjection to laymen for ecclesiastical livings, as is before touched.
This council being finished, the archbishop, seeing the unstedfasincss of the pope, w^hich pleased him but little, took his journey to L>ons, where he continued his abode a long time, till the death, first of Pope Urban, and then of the king.
Of this King AVilliam many things be diversely recorded, some to his commendation, and some to his discommendation ; whereof this is one which some will ascribe to liai'diness, but I rather to rash- The imrd- ness in him. As this king upon a time was in his disport of hunting, 1-athcV'"^ suddenly w^ord came to him that Le Mans, a city in Normandy, " ^'1',',^'' was besieged. The king, without longer tarrying or advisement, '^viii'i"". took the straight way toward the sea-side, sending to his lords that they should follow after. They, being come to his presence, advised him to stay till the time his people were assembled ; but he would
]54 DEATH OF WILLIAM RUFLIS.
jt .//.;». not be stayed, saying, tliat such as liim lovctl, lie knew, would follow
^"■^'"- him shortlV; and so went to take ship. The shipmaster, seeing the
A.D. weather so' dark and cloudy, was afraid, and counselled the king to
1100- tjirry till the wind ditl turn about, and the weather was more favourable.
A saying But tlic king, persisting in his journey, commanded him to make all
wiUiam t^'^ speed he might IVu- his life ; saying, that he never heard that
any kintf yet was ever drowned; and so passed the sea in safety, and
came to Nonnandy.
The thirteenth year of his reign, the said King William, having tlie same time in his hand three bishoprics — Canterbury, Winchester, and Sarum, also twelve abbies in farm, as he was in his disport of Thcrtoath hunting in the New F(n-est, by glancing of an arrow shot by a knight I'iamKu "«m^"d Walter Tyn ell, was wounded to death, and so, speechless, was fus. carrieil to Westminster, and there was buried. Here also is to be noted, that Richard, the cousin-german of King William, and son to Duke Robert his brother, was likewise slain in the aforesaid forest. See the just hand of God upon kings usuq)ing wrongfully upon other men"'s grounds, as did William the Conqueror, their father, in making this new forest, plucking do^^Tl divers churches and ^/'go"]''^ townsliips for the compass of thirty miles about. Here therefore ap- revcng- pcarctli, that although men cannot revenge, yet God revengcth, either fauits'of in them or in their posterity. This king, as he always used con- fildr^pos- cubines, so left he no issue legitimate behind him. His life was such, "-'"•>■■ that it is hard for a story that should tell the truth to say whether he was more to be commended or reproved. Among other vices in him, especially is to be rebuked in him unmeasurable and unreasonable coveious- covetousness ; insomuch that he coveted, if he might, to be every "':''* °l., man's heir. This one example of a liberal and princely nature I Ham. find in him, that upon a trnie when a certam abbot ot a place was dead, there came to his court two monks of the same house, who before had gathered much money, and made their friends to the king, and offered large offers, both of tliem to be promoted to that dignity. There was also a third monk of the same place, who of meekness and humility followed the other two, to the intent that upon him whom the king had admitted for abbot, he should give attendance, and as his chaplain with him retm-n. The king called before him the two monks severally, of whom the one outproffercd the other. As the king cast his eye aside, he espied the third monk standing by, sup- posing that his coming had been also for the like cause. Then the king, calling him, asked what he would do, whether he would give more than his brethren had offered to be abbot. He answered the king, and said, that he neither had, nor would (if he might) offer any penny for it by any such unlawful means. When the king had well pondered this third monk's answer, he said that he was best worthy to be abbot, and to have the rule of so holy a charge : and so gave imto him that benefice witliout taking any penny.
Urban, Ijishop of Rome, who, as is said, succeeded after Victor, ruled the church of Rome about the space of eleven years ; and amongst his other acts he excommunicated the emperor, Henry IV., as a man not much devout to that see of Rome. But yet a worthy and victorious prince he was, in whom, albeit some vice perchance might be noted, yet none such wherefore any prelate or minister of
KPISTLK OF BISHOP WALTUAM. 155
Christ ought to excite his subjects to rebel against public authority ininam of God appointed. This emperor Henry IV. was by four popes '""-^"'' severally excommunicate — by Hildebrand, Victor, Urban, and Paschal ; A. D. which excommunication wrought so in the ignorant and blind hearts ^ ^ ^*^- of the people, that many, as well of the nobles as of the multitude, iicnryiv. contrary to their sworn allegiance, rebclliously conspired against their rauni- king and emperor; in the number of whoni among the rest was one j:^tt certain earl, named Louis, to whom Waltram, bishop of the church popes. of Naumburg (a godly and faithfid man, as appeareth) doth write louL letters of fatherly admonition, exhorting and instructing' him in the '■'^''!''' office of obedience ; unto the which letters he likewise doth answer t'le em- again by cavilling sophistication, and by mere affection, rather dis- ^*'^°'" posed to discord, than seeking sincerity of truth. And forasmuch as in these two letters the argument of christian obedience on both sides is so debated by proofs and reasons as may be profitable for the reader to peruse and understand, I thought therefore not to defraud the English reader of the same, whereof peradvcnture some utility might be taken. The tenor of the bishop's letter to the earl here followeth.
The Epistle of Waltram, bishop of Naumburg, to Earl Louis, Land- grave of Thuringia, exhorting to concord and obedience.*
Waltram, by the grace of God being tliat he is, to the most serene prince, Louis, together with his earnest prayers ofFereth himself in all things his most devoted servant. To every realm concord is advantageous, and justice desirable ; for this virtue is the mother of goodness and the preservation of all honesty. But whoever goeth about sowing civil dissension, and inciteth others to the shedding of men's blood, he is, in fact, himself a bloody man, and a partaker with him vAw, thirsting for our blood, continually " walketh about seeking whom he may devour." Do thou, therefore, most glorious concord prince, considering how that God is a God of peace and not of dissension, "as and just much as in you lieth, live peaceably with all men." " God is iove ;" the devil "i^edience is hatred. On love " hangeth all the law, and the prophets :" but he that in a com- hateth his brother is a murdei-er, and hath no part in the kingdom of Christ and nion- of God." These are the sayings, partly of the Truth himself and partly of him ^'^^ ' ' who was the Truth's disciple; who from the breast of his Lord having drimk deeply of Gospel truth, the more abundantly " gladdeneth the city of God with the streams of that river." [Psalm xlvi. 4.] But that " chosen vessel," who, being " caught up to the third heaven, not by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ," learned his Gospel, he saith, " Let every soul be subject to the higher powers ; for there is no power but of God. But he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God " [Rom. xiii. 1,2]: as some of our friends are doing, who dream and teach among seely women^ and the simple mul- titude, that we are not bound to be subject to kingly power, and that therefore it is false to assert, that " every soul ought to be subject to the higlier power." But can the Truth itself lie? or do we seek a proof of him who spake in the apostle, even Cln-ist? Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Be we stron.gL-r than he? Yet what else doth he, but think himself stronger than the Lord, who resisteth his ordinance? for " there is no power but of God." Bat what saith the prophet? — " Confounded be all that fight against thee, O Lord, and Disobe- themen shall perish who strive with thee." [Is. xli. IL] Rodolph, Hildebrand, 'ii^">« Egbert, with iniumierable other pj-inces, resisted the ordinance of God in the byCod. person of Henry the emperor ; and lo ! they are now perished as though they had never been : and as their end was very evil, so their beginning could not have been good.
Now, therefore, forsomuch as they who are opposed to us have hitherto only fenced with us at a distance with their reasonings, let us meet your
(1) W.-iUramus, Dei gratia id quod est, Ludovico, serenissimo principi, cum iustantia oratiomim seraetipsura ad omnii devotissimum. Orani regno utilis est concordia, desiderabilis est justitia," kc. — Ex. [Dodechini] Appendice ad Marianum Scotum. [See the Appendix. — Ed.]
(2) " Mulierculas."— Ed.
]'C) TIIK UAII.ING ANSWER OF EARI. LOUIS.
nuiiam judgment in close encounter, wherever (even in your own judgment) it may be
Iiiifiii. proper, only let it not be " in tlieir own hired lodging" [Acts xxviii. 30], but
. ., lot us use the testimony of Christ and the ancient fathers. And tliat it be not
; ," ' ■ refused, let this be the law of our contest, either that I shall adopt the popular
• opinion, or by my victory gain you to our lord the emperor. Also let that
saving be attended to, " if any man preach any other gospel than that which
is'preacljcd unto you, let him be accursed." [Gal. i. 8.] This curse doth not
proceed from the "hired lodging" of profane novelty, but is thundered from the
tliird heaven. 13ut of them who, " being ignorant of God's righteousness and
"(tin" about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God" [Ko;n. x. 3], of such I may confidently say, " Let
them curse, but bless thou ; when they arise let them be ashamed ; but let thy
servant rejoice" [Psalm cix. 28] : for (as thou sayest, O Lord) "Without
me ye can do nothing " [John xv. 5] : nor wilt thou condemn the just when
he is judged ; " Who then art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his
own master he standeth or falleth." [Horn. xiv. 4.]
The railing Answer of Earl Louis to the former Letter of Bishop
Waltram. The Earl Louis to the Lord Waltram, whatever is due to such a name. " As a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good, so doth an evil man out of the evil treasure bring forth evil." Whence hath such excessive arrogancy possessed you, to provoke my indignation with such injurious con- tumehes? For my lords and spiritual fathers, who strengthen me in the way of righteousness, you obliquely call bloody men, like unto Satan ; and the whole- some lessons which they teach, you call dreams for scely women and the rude vulgar. Hath God any need of your judgment, that you should sj)cak leasings for him? Iniquity hath taught your mouth, and you imitate the tongue of blasphemers; so that the prophet rightly saith of you, " He hath left ofT to be wise and to do good ; he deviseth mischief upon his bed." [Psalm xxxvi. ?>, 4.] Although, therefore, being froward thou didst speak froward things, yet we determined " to set a watch upon our mouth, while the ungodly was before Wellsaid: US." But the word of God exciteth us, saying, "Answer a fool according to when you his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." [Prov. xxvi. 5.] Shall folly cry amc"to ^^^^ witlist.ind silence? Shall "darkness cover the earth, and the Lord not arise and shine?" Ills wis- Yea^ rather, " the light shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it liimafooi. not." WMiile I was considering hereof " my heart grew hot within me ; and Note how while I was musing the fire kindled." [Psalm xxxix. 3.] We therefore now herc^call- speak, yea cry, and (as much as in us lieth) will drive away " the little foxes eth light which are destroying the Lord's vines" [Cant. ii. 15] ; fearing that threatening ''''d'rt'^^'k' P^'opl'ccy — " Ye have not withstood our adversaries, neither have ye made a nesslight. bulwark for the defence of the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord." [Ezek. xiii. 5.] Hear me, then — not thou " who hast ears He hath a'ld hcarest not, eyes and seest not ; who hast made the vcrj' light that is in thee uueri'd darkness;" but — such as are wise, and " ha\e ears to hear" withal ; let such, I son thair ^"^J' '^^'''^'' '"^^^' profoundly ignorant thou art, or pretendest to be, what ye say you are and whereof ye afHrm I Thou invitest us to be subject to the Lord Henry,
able ever whom they call the emperor, and (as far as we can understand thee) thou to answer iiii • ^,. ,- i- • n,- ,i
lo. woulUst lay a necessity upon us oi being subject to him in all things, and that
by an argument seemingly drawn from the apostle, saying, " Let every soul be
subject unto the higher ))owers ; for there is no power but of God ; he therefore
that resisteth, resisteth the ordinance of God." Which sentence of the apostle,
we assert that you do ill understand, and still worse interpret. For if every
WTiether power be of God, as you understand it, what mcaneth this that the Lord
every speaketh of certain by the prophet, "They reigned, but not by me; they were
I's'tTbe '""^^^ princes, and 1 knew tluin not." [Hos. viii. 4.] If every power be of
obeyed God, as you understand it, what meaneth this that the Lord saith, " If thine
or no. eye ofl'eiid thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee?" For what is a power, if
the eye be not? Certainly Augustine, in his exposition of this passage of the
nposlle — "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers," saith, "But
if the ])ower should command any thing which is contrary to God, there hold
the power in contempt ; yet continuing to fear the power in other respects."*
(1) Sec Ajipendix.— Ed.
THK HAILING ANSWER OF EAIlL I.OITIS. 157
Is there iniquity witli God? Is Christ the minister of sin ? God forbid, wniian, What do we say, then? Doth the apostle preach contrary to the prophet? Hufus. Augustine saith, " By no means. One breath filletli many pipes of divers . j^ tones." Therefore let us hear the apostle reconciling and expounding himself, ■, ,',j.^'
and destroying the enemy and avenger. "There is no power," he saith, " but '-
of God." What foUoweth ? Thou sayest — " He therefore that doth resist the if every power," &c. No such thing— that doth not follow: but what doth follow ? ',',""t"-. *' But the powers which be, are ordained of God." Truly, tiiat is the very fcndeUi thing we want. O crafty tongue ! O heart imagining mischief! O breath that!"* *'!''■ goeth forth, but shall not return ! Why hast thou lied to the Holy Ghost? Let be'^cast thine own conscience accuse thee. Behold, the wicked fleeth when none "'"' ""'" pursueth ! Why would you suppress the truth, on purpose to deceive ? Why eariVi'/uk' have you stolen away the marrow and soul of tliis passage ? For if these last- a fair ar- cited words be taken out of the middle of the apostle's sentence, it will lio e""' incoherent and lifeless. The word of the Lord is herein fulfilled, " He that diggeth a pit for his neighbour, shall fall therein himself." [Prov. xxvi. 27.] Verily, thou canst not avoid either the guilt or the punishment of theft. What, O unhappy man, what wilt thou answer the Judge when he cometh to take account of his servants whom he put in trust, seeing thou shalt then be arraigned and proved a peculator of thy Lord's property ? Why didst thou not fear the How live- judgment and execution of a traitor, and lest like guilt should be followed by '^ ^^}^^^ like punishment ? The apostle, through the Holy Ghost, did foresee that you, describe and such heretics as you are, should arise in the church, wlio should call them- good evil and evil good, and put darkness for light and light for darkness, and the^ro^'," should take occasion by sentences of truth to bring in error : and therefore, colours! liaving premised " There is no power but of God," on purpose to prevent any ?^"' P^"' wrong-headed inference therefrom he addeth, " But the powers which be, are the^mpe- ordained of God." Give us then an ordained power, and we will not resist ror to be the same, nay, we will forthwith do homage. ^" ordma-
' J ' o j*y power
But I marvel, that, if there be but a single drop of blood in thee, thou dost when be not blush to call the Lord Henry "king," or allow him to have order in his appealed favour. Doth it seem to thee order, to give place to wickedness, and to con- ° ""' found good and evil, God's laws and man's devices? Doth it seem to thee order, for a man to sin against his own body, as for example, (O atrocious This is wickedness !) to make a harlot of his own wife — a villany never before heard of '^,'^'^'^; since the world began ? Doth it seem to thee order, when the Lord saith, emperor " Defend the widow," then to go and prostitute widows to shameful defilement, would even when appealing for equity of justice ? Orestes,' in his madness even, ^vr'i^'^vife protesteth that he must be out of his senses who would assert such things to a harlot ! be orderly or well done. Until these most wretched times, nature hath always loved secrecy ; but your king, given up to a reprobate mind, hath thrown aside the veil and exposed to public gaze that which natural shame would conceal. To say nothing of innumerable atrocities, such as burning of churches, spoil- ing, murders, burnings, mutilations, and the like, the number whereof he knoweth, not we — let us point out those things chiefly wherein the church of God is aggrieved. Hear, then, things true and not coloured ; hear what are serious matters, and no jest. Every one that selleth spiritual dignities is a heretic. Evil will But the Lord Henry, whom they call "king," selleth both bishoprics and "^j'^^^.^.jj^ abbacies ; for assuredly he sold for money the bishoprics of Constance, Bam- berg, Mentz, and many others ; the bishoprics of Katisbon, Augsburgh, and Strasburgh, he sold for a sword ; the abbacy of Fulda, for adulterous inter- course; thebishopric of Munster (shocking both to tell and to hear !) for Sodomitic indulgence. Which things if you will impudently den)' in the face of heaven and earth, even the poor silly idiots, taken from the smithy, will conclude, "The Lord Henr}' then is a heretic." For the which atrocious crimes being excom- municated by the apostolic see, he cannot now govern his kingdom nor exercise any power over us who be catholics. And whereas thou chargest us with hatred of our brethren, understand, that we intend not to hate any from mere dislike, but from considerations of piety. God forbid, that we sliould allow Henry worthy to be accounted a christian brother, who, by so often refusing to hear the reproofs of the church, is become to us as " a heathen man and a publican:"
(1) The writer seems to refer to Orestes, who, having cov.imitted the most fearful murders, is said to have be«n tormented to madness, by the Furies. yEscbyl. in Eumen. Agam. — Ed.
158 THE nAlLING ANSWER Or EARL LOUIS.
Uii!i„m tlio liatrcd of whom we offer unto God as a great sacrifice, saying with the Hufuj. psahuist, " Do not I hate iheni that hate thee, O Lord ? and am not I grieved will) thine enemies? I hate tliem witli perfect liatred, I count them mine , ■^:' enemies." [Psahn cxxxix. 21, 22.] The Truth himself, commending the '^""' worthiness of this hatred, doth say, " If any man hate not father and mother, Azeal.but and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, for my sake, he cannot be far from ,„y tUgciple." [Luke xiv. 2C.] \\e arc not, therefore, justly upbraided with kXc hatred, seeing we are commanded to hate even our own life if we wander from And when God's wav, and to hate father and mother, and every natural affection, which tlii-y hhdll j,j„(j^,retli us from walking in God's way. Thence is it, that we use our study and tl'V*"'"" endeavour to guard against the enemies of the church as our own enemies thinkihey ^jgp ^,,(1 ],atc them ; yet, not as being our enemies, but as being God's enemies. Kreat*ber- Kurthpr, whereas you urge us "to maintain peace with all men," you should vice. remember that the apostle premiseth, " If it be possible :" but it is impossible
Yi-a true, that we should maintain peace with those that are contrary to God. But who if heh.id [^ iiTnorant, that the Lord our Saviour not only commendeth peace, when lie you't'ofor'- saith, " My peace I give unto you, peace I leave with you ;" but also that he sake the himself is that peace, as saitli the apostle, " He is our peace, who hath made iLime of Jjpji^ one." What then doth our Peace himself say, while speaking in com- which'he mendation of peace? " Think not," saith he, " that I came to send peace on iieverdid. the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword." \\ hat meanclh this? Why doth Peace threaten a sword? or why doth Peace proclaim war? — to destroy, forsooth, the peace of the devil; for the devil also hath his peace, whereof the oil, how Lord saith, " When a strong man, armed, kecpeth his palace, his goods are in 7^i'''^ peace." [Luke xi. 21.] Oh how strongly doth tlie devil keep his palace at this Satavi moment by you his guards ! who, pi'otected by the shield of falsehood and the he'c helmet of perfidy, so defend him, that you will not allow the arrows of truth
himself to °'" ''^^ darts of faith to pierce him. Nevertheless, ouv Lord being the " stronger an aiigel man armed, coming upon your strong man, is able to overcome him and take of light! from him all his armour, wherein he tiusteth." [ibid.] We are not, there- fore, rightly blamed, if we protest against that peace, more cruel than any war, which the Truth himself condemncth, weeping over Jerusalem and saying, " Truly in this day the things which belong to thy peace" [Luke xix. 42] ; and which the Psalmist envied in the wicked, when he saw the peace of sinners. Whereas you condemn Pope Gregory, king Kodolph, and the Marquis Egbert, as men who have died wretched deaths, and count your lord blessed because he doth outlive them, it plainly appeareth that you arc void of all spiritual consideration. Is it not more blessed to die well, than to live ill ? for " blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake." You might as well esteem Nero, Herod, and Pontius Pilate blessed, for that they severally outlived Peter and Paul, and James the apostle, and the Lord Jesus Christ — an opinion, than which nothing can be more foolish and absurd. Wherefore refrain thy babbling tongue from this blasphemy ; unless thou wouldst })lace thyself among the number of those, who, beholding the end of the righteous to be glorious, and themselves too late and in vain "repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit, shall say, These be they whom we had some- times in derision, and a proverb of reproach. We fools accounted their life madness, and their end to be without honour. How arc they numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness hath not shincd unto us, and the Sun of righteousness rose not upon us. What hath pride profited us, or what good hath riches, with our vaunting, brought us? All those things are passed away like a shadow." [Wisdom v. 3 — 9.] Which words we registering in imperishable remembrance, despise every imagination that shall exalt itself against the truth of God ; and, glorying as we do in tribu- lations, we may be falsely accused, accursed, banished, yea, and finally slain, but we cannot yield or be conquered. Moreover (as thou thyself wouldst have felt once, when a beardless boy and a gay youth, and not yet a tough-hearted old man) we do rejoice with great exultation in the memory of our fathers, who, despising the commandments of princes, merited everlasting rewards.
There is a certain chronicle in old English metro, wliich, among olhcr matters speaking of William Rufus, declarcth him to be so
HENRY SUHNAMKl) IJKAUCI-ERK. 159
sumptuous and excessive in pompous apparel, that lie not beincf con- •"'■'"■j/ '■ tented with a pair of hose^ at a low price, which was tliree shillings, a. I). caused a pair to be bought at a mark, whereupon his chamberlain, iioo. procuring a pair much worse than the other before, said,
" That they costen'd a mark, and unneth he them so bought : Yea, Belamy (quoth the king) these are well bought !"
Whereby is to be noted what difference is to be seen between the hose of princes then, and the hose of serving-men now. Appendix Historiw. After the time of this King William, the name of King ceased in '^"^f?^, .
" *- C6JIS6U ill
the country of Wales among the Britons, since King Ris, in the waies. reign of this king, a. d. 1093, was slain in Wales. ^
HENRY THE FIRST.'
Henry I., the third son of William the Conqueror, succeeding his A.D. brother Rufus, began his reign in England a. D. 1100, who, for his 1100. knowledge and science in the Seven Liberal Arts, was surnamed Henry Clerk, or Beauclerk. In this prince may well appear how knowledge fjerk, and learning do greatly conduce to the government and admini- |^"f,°L stration of any realm or country. At the beginning he reformed the state and condition of the clergy, released the gTievous payments, and reduced again King Edward's laws, with emendation thereof; he reformed the old and untrue measm-es, and made a measure after the ^^jj.^ ™^'*' length of his arm ; he greatly abhon-ed excess of meats and drinks ; England many things misused before his time he reformed, and used to after vanquish more by counsel than by sword. Such persons as were nice of'^^"g'* and w^anton he secluded from his court. This man, as appeareth, Henry'; little favoured the usurped power of the bishop of Rome. Soon after he w^as king, he married Matilda, or Maud, daughter of Malcolm, king of Scots, and of Margaret his wife, daughter of Edward the Outlaw, as is before specified, being a professed nun at Winchester, whom, notwithstanding, and without the pope"'s dispensation, he married by the consent of Anselm, by the wliich Maud he re- ceived two sons, William and Richard, and two daughters, Matilda and Mary, which jSIatilda afterwards was mamed to the emperor, Henry V>
In the second year of his reign, Robert, his elder brother, duke of a.d.uoi. Normandy, being occupied in the christian wars against the Turks, and being elected, as you heard, king of Jerusalem, hearing of the death of Rufus, refused the kingdom thereof; for the which, as is thought, he never sped well after. Thus the said Robert, leaving Example, off the Lord's business, and returning into Normandy, made there u, ieave '^ his preparations, and came over into England with a gi-eat host to J'^^'^,
arm.
he _ _ _ -_ ..ord's
challenge the crown ; but, by mediation of the lords, it was agreed businesB
(1) This anecdote is told with great life and spirit by Malmcsbury. " One morning," says he, " as he was putting on a pair of new boots, he asked his pentienian of the bedchamber, in waiting, what they cost ? he was answered ' three shillings.' ' Away, base fellow,' said the king, ' did you ever hear of a king wearing such pitiful boots as those ? go, bring a pair of a mark of silver.' The bedchamber-man went and brought a pair much worse, but told his master they cost what he had ordered. ' Ay,' replied William, ' these are boots fit for a king to wear ;' and so put them on." — Ed.
(2) Ex continuatione Roger Hoved.
(3) Edition 1 ;(;.3, p. ;?0. Ed. 1583, p. 111. Ed. 159G, p. 17J. Etl. ICSl, vol. i. p. 21G.— Ld.
(4) Ex Mat. I'aris. Flor. Hist.
IGO
THE HOSPITAL OV HARTHOLOMEW FOUNDKl).
u.nryT. tliut Robcrt slioulcl liavc yearly, during his life, three thousand marks, as were likewise promised him before by King Rufus, his
A. I). 1102.
Duke llulicrt taken prisuiier.
The hos- pital ut U.irthu- lomcw ruiiiiUcU.
The king ordains and in- vests bishopa without the pope.
Aiisvhn
cruel and
fierce
nxainst
married
I'riesls.
brother ; and that whetlier of tliem outlived the other, should be the other's heir. On this Robert departed again into Normandy, to the great discontent of his lords there ; but, in a few years after, the aforenamed tribute of three thousand marks, through the means of Queen Matilda, was released to the king his brother. In jn'ocess of time, variance haj)pening between King Henry and the said Robert liis brother, at length Robert in his wars was taken prisoner, and brought over into England, and was put into the castle of Cardiff in Wales, where he continued as a ])risoner while he lived.
In this time, as about the third year of this king, the hospital of St. Rartholomew in Smithfield was founded, by means of a minstrel belonging unto the king, named Rayer, and it was afterwards finished by Jiieliard Whittington, alderman and mayor of London. This place of Smithfield was at that day a laystall of all ordure or iilth, and the place where the felons and other transgressors of the king''s laws Avere put to execution.
Divers strict laws were by this king provided, especially —
Against thieves and felons, That whoso should be taken in that fault, no money should save him from lianging.
Item, That whoso should counterfeit false money, should have both his eyes put out, and the nether parts of his body cut oif.
Item, In the same council was decreed an order for priests to be sequestered from their wives, which before were not forbidden.'
Item, It was then decreed that monks and priests should bear no rule over lay persons.
Item, It was decreed concerning broidei-ing of hair, and wearing of gar- ments.
Item, That a secret contract of marriage between a young lad and a young maid should not stand : with other things concerning the excommunicaiion of those guilty of sodomy.
In the story of William Rufus before was declared how Anselm, the archbishop of Canterbury, departing out of the realm, went to the pope, who, after the death of King William, was sent for again by the aforesaid King Henry, and so returned again, and Avas at the council of the king at Westminster ; where the king, in the presence of the lords, as well temporal as spiritual, ordained and invested two bishops, Roger bishop of Salisbury, and Roger bishop of Hereford. During that parliament or council of the king, Anselm in his convo- cation deposed and displaced divers abbots and other prelates from their rooms and dignities, cither for that they lawfully came not by them, or uprightlv did not administer the same.
After this council and the other before set forth by Anselm, Herbert, bishop of Norwich, had much ado Avith the priests of his diocese, for they Avould neither leave their wives, nor yet give over their benefices. On this he Avrote to Anselm, the archbishop, for counsel Avhat Avas to be done therein, Avho required him, as he did others at the same time by Avriting, to persuade the people of Norfolk and Suffolk, that as they professed Christianity, they should subdue them as rebels against the church, and utterly drive both them and
(1) The words of mine author are tliese: " Anselmus prohibuit uxores sacerdotil)US Anplorum ante non prohiliil.is. Quodquibusd.im niundissimum visum est, quibusdam pcriculosum, no dum mundicias viribus majorcs appcterent, in immundicias borribiles ad Christian! nominis sumraum dedccus incidcrcnt," &c. — Kx Hen. Hunt. lib. vii. Anselm.
KIKG HENRY JUSTLY OFFENDED WITH ANSELM. 1()1
tlieir wives out of the country, placing monks in their room, as by iiennj i. the epistles of the said Ansclm doth appear ;' whereof certain parcels ~a~D~ shall hereafter, by the grace of Christ, ensue, for the better evidence iio2. of this and his other acts above recited.
The like business also had Gerard, the archbishop of York, in depriving the priests of his province of their wives ; which thing, with all his excommunications and thunderings, he could hardly bring about. Upon this ruffling of Anselm with mamed priests, were rhyming verses made to help the matter withal, when reason could not serve, which verses, for the folly thereof, I thought here to annex. ^
About the end of the second year of this kins:, which was by com- A.D.iirt?,
f . A strife
putation a.d. 1102, a variance happened between King Henry and between Anselm, the occasion whereof was this : — Ye heard a little before how J\g"fy Henry, the aforesaid kinsr, had, of his own authoritv, invested two and An- bishops, one Roger, who was chancellor, bishop of Salisbury, and arch' another, bishop of Hereford. Besides them divers also he invested, canufr-° and divers other like things took he upon him in the ecclesiastical '^^y- state, which he might lawfully do, God's word allowing well the same ; but because he was restrained by the bishop of Rome, and forbidden so to do, this Anselm swelled, fretted, and waxed so mad, that he would neither consent to it, nor yet confirm them, nor com- municate nor talk friendly with those whom the king had instituted and invested ; but opprobriously called them abortives, or children of destruction, disdainfully rebuking the gentle king as a defiler of religion, and polluter of their holy ceremonies ; as witnesseth Poly- dore. With this uncomely outrage the king was much displeased, as he might full well, and required Gerard, the archbishop of York, as he owed him allegiance, to consecrate them ; who, without delay, did ^i5^°J''''^f so, well performing the same, saving that one William Gifford, to win- whom the king had given the bishopric of Winchester, refused to take refused to his consecration by the hands of the archbishop of York, for which I^^J^j'i'y cause the king, worthily with him offended, deprived him both of the arch- bishopric and goods, and banished him the realm. York.
Moreover, the king required of Anselm, the archbishop of Canter- bury, to do unto him homage, after the manner of his ancestors, as witnesseth Malmesbury.^ Also it was asked of the said Anselm, whether he would be with the king in giving investitures, as Lanfranc, his predecessor, was with his father. To whom Anselm said, that he promised not at any time that he would enter into this order to keep the law or custom of his father, as Lanfranc did. Moreover, as Acts concerning homage to be done to the king, that he refused ; alleging Roman the censures of the pope's excommunication, who, in his council of !j°g|),"{ Rome a little before.^had given forth open sentence of excommunica- laymen tion upon all such lay persons, whatsoever they were, that should any spiri- from henceforth confer or give any spiritual promotions, and also motions"
(1) Ex Epist. Ansel. 17e.
(2) " O male viventes, versus audita sequentes.
Uxores vestras, quas edit summa potestas, Linquite propter eum, tenuit qui morte trophxum. Quod si non facitis, inferna claustra petetis. Christi sponsa juliet, ne Presbyter ille ministret, Qui tenet uxorem, bomini quia perdit amorem : Contradicentem fore dicinms insipienteni : HcBC non ex rancore loquor, potius sed amore." Versus male feriati, ex Biljliis Ramsay. (3) Ex Guliel. Malmesb. lib. i. de Gestis Pontif. Anglo. (-1) Seo p. 153.— Ed.
vol.. 11. M
1G2 COREESPONDEXCE BETWEEN KING HEXUY,
Henry I. upon thcui that rocfivecl them at their liands, cither yet should .^ jj consecrate any such receivers. Moreover, he accursed all them that 1102. for bencfic-es or other ecclesiastical promotions should subject them
selves under the homage or service of any great man, king, prince.
No s^iri- duke, or earl of the laity. For it was unseemly, said tho pope, and
^u^'h
under ),j^,]| ,^ working as was granted to no angel (that is, to create him
tioii to a with their crosses, who created all, and to offer up the same before
itni^c. the sight of the Father for the salvation of the whole world), should
be brought to such a slavery as to be subject to those filthy hands,
which both day and night are polluted with shameful touchings,
Anseim robbcrics, and bloodshed, &c.' This decree of Pope Urban Anselm
lo'dr"* alleging for himself, denied to subject himself to the king's homage,
iiomage fearing, as he said, the pope's excommunication. Upon this,
king. messengers were sent to Rome on both parts unto the pope, then
Pope Paschal, who, stoutly standing to the steps and determinations
of Urban, his predecessor, would in no case yield to the king's
investing.''*
In the mean time, while there was long disputation on both sides
for investing, the nobles of the realm contended, that investings did
belong to the king's dignity : wherefore the king, calling for Anselm
again, required him either to do homage to him, or else to void his
kingdom. To whom Anselm replying again, required the pope's
letters to be brought forth, and, according to the tenor thereof, so
the matter to be decided ; for now the messengers were rctiu-ned
from Rome, with the pope's answer, altogether siding with Anselm.
The king Then said the king, " What have I to do with the pope's letters .'' I
iMnV'to 'will iiot forego the liberties of my kingdom for any pope." Thus the
fheliope's coiitention continued between them. Anselm saith, he would not
letters, out of thc realm, but depart home to his church, and there see who
would offer him any violence : and so he did. Not long after,
message came from the king to Anselm, requesting him, after a gentle
sort, to repair to the king's presence again, to put an end to the
xiessen- Controversy, whereunto Anselm yielded and came. Then Avere new
fgainlo ambassadors sent again to the pope, that he would something qualify
Rome. ^-^^ moderate, or rather abolish, the strictness of the Roman decree
beforcmentioned. On the part of Anselm went two monks, Baldwin
of Bee and Alexander of Canterbury. On the kinir's behalf were
sent two bishops, Robert, bishop of Lichfield, and Herbert, bishop of
Norwich, with the king's letters written unto the pope, containing in
form as followeth.^
Lcttct To the reverend father Paschal, the cliicf hishop, Henry, by the grace of God
Henr" f '^'"° "^ England, greeting. For this your promotion imto the see of the holy
(I) Ex Jomalensis Bibliothecae Ilistoria.
(l) Ex Matthteo Paris. Ex Guliel. Malmesb. lib. i. de Gestis Pont. An?.
(3) " Patri vciierabili Paschali, summo pontifici, Henricus.Dei gratia rex Anglonim, salutem. Promotinni vcstn in scdein sancta; Roman qux patri meo cum antecessoribus vestris fuit, inter nos quoque illibata permaneat. Unde, ut dilectio ct benipnitas a me videatur sumere initium, benelicium quod ab antecessoribus meis beatus Petrus hahuit, vobis mitto : eosque honore-s et e-im obedicntiam quam tempore patris mei antecessores vcstri in regno Anfrlise habuerunt, tempore meo ut habeatis volo, eo videlicet tenore, ut dignitatis usus et consucmUines, quas pater mens tempore antecessorum vestrorum in regno Angli,-e hahuit, ego tempore vcstro in eodem regno meo integre obtineam. Notumque habeat sanctitas vestra. quod me vivente (Oco auxiliante)dignitates et usus regni Angli.ne non minuentur. Et si ego (quod .ibsit) in tanta me dejectione ponerem, optimates mei (imo totius Ang!i.-E populus) id nullo modo psterentur. Hahita igitur (charissime pater) utiliori deliberatione, ita se erga noa moderetur benignitas vestra, ne quid invitus faciam, et a vestra me cogatis recedere obedientia."
AND THE POPE OF ROME. 163
church of Rome, as I am heartily glad, so my request is to you, that the iriend- iienry I.
ship and amity, which hath been heretofore between my father and your
predecessors in times past, may now also between us in like manner continue ^- ^• undiminished ; and, that love and gentleness may first begin on my part, here ^^Q^- I send to you that gift that St. Peter had in former time of my predecessors. And likewise the same honours and obedience which your predecessors have had in the realm of England before in the time of my father, I will you to have the same in my time also : after this form I mean and tenor, that the usage and manner of dignity, and such customs, as my father hath had in this realm of England, in the time of your ancestors, I in like ample manner also now, in your time, may fully enjoy the same in this the said realm of England. Thus, Spokea therefore, be it known to your hoUness, that dui-ing this life of mine (God l)!^*;,^ Almighty enabling me to the same) these abovenamed dignities, usages, and customs of this realm of England, shall in no part be lessened. Yea, and if that I (as God forbid I should) would so much deject myself unto such coward- ness, yet my nobles, yea, the whole people of England, in no case would suffer it. Wherefore, dear father, using with yourself a better deHberation in this The king matter, let your gentleness so moderate itself toward us, lest ye compel me, '* ?' j* which I shall do against my will, to recede and depart utterly from your leave the obedience. pope's
obedi-
At the same time, also, he sent another letter or epistle to the ^"'^^' said pope, craving of him the pall for Gerard, archbishop of York, the form whereof here also followeth : ^ —
To the reverend and well-beloved father universal. Pope Paschal, Henry, by Another the grace of God, king of England, greeting. Tlae great love which I bear to ^^}^^ °^ you, and the no less gentleness in you, which not a little beautifieth your Henr>' I. doings, ministereth to me boldness to write. And whereas I thought to have to the retained still this Gerard with me, and to have craved your pall for him by P"^^' letters ; yet, notwithstanding, when his desire covdd not otherwise be satisfied, but he would needs present himself before your presence, by his own heart to crave of you the same, I have sent him up unto you, desiring your benign fatherhood in this behalf, that he, obtaining the pall at your hands, may be sent home again to me. And thus, requiring the assistance of yom* prayers, I pray the Lord long to preserve your apostleship.
This second letter of the king in sending for the pall was well taken of all the court of Rome, which (as mine author saith) procured such favour to Gerard, archbishop of York, and bringer thereof, that no complaint of his adversaries afterwards could hurt him with the pope. Notwithstanding, he was accused grievously for divers things, and specially for not standing to the consecration of Anselm, arch- bishop of Canterbury,
Polydore, in his eleventh book of his English history, affirmeth, a place that Anselm also went up to Rome with Gerard about the same dorev^irgii cause. But both the premises and sequel of the story argue that to ^°^^^^ be untrue, for what need the two monks to be sent up on Anselm's side, if he had gone up himself.'*^ Again, how could the pope write down by the said messengers to Anselm, if he had been present there himself.'^ for so proceedeth the story by the narration of Malmesbury and others.
After the ambassadors, thus on both sides sent up to Rome, had laboured their cause with instant suit one against the other, the loatVto '' pope, glad to gratify the king, yet loath to grant his request, being ^fg^Swn'* against his own profit, and therefore more inclining to Anselm's side, profit.
(1) " Reverendo et diligendo patri universali papae Paschali Henricus, Dei gratia rex Anglonim, salutem. Amor quem plurimum erga vos habeo, et benignitas quse nuiUum vestros actus exornat," &c.
(2) Ex Guliel. Malmesb. lib. viii. de Pont. .\ng.
M 2
164- AX F.NOLISH AMBASSADOR SENT TO ROME.
lunnj I. sendcth down his letters to the said Anselm, signifying that he would ^ ^ not repeal the statutes of his holy fathers for one man s pleasure ; 1103. charging him, moreover, not only not to yield in the cause of invest-
ing, but constantly to ailhere to the aforesaid decreement of Pope
Urban, his predecessor, &c. Besides this letter to Anselm, he directed also another to the king himself, which, mine author saith, the king suppressed and did not show, only declaring, by word of mouth, what tiie ambassadors had said unto him from the pope, which was, that he permitted unto him the license of investing, upon condition that in other things he would execute the office of a good prince, &c. To this, also, the testimony of the three bishops above minded did accord, which made the matter more probable. But the two monks on the other side replied, bringing forth the letter of Anselm to the contrary, &c. To them it was answered, that more credit was to be given to the degree and testimony of the bishops, than to theirs ; and that as for monks, they had no suffrage nor testimony in secular matters, and therefore they might hold their peace. " But this is no secular matter," said Baldwin, the monk of Jiec. Whereunto, again, the nobles of the king's part answered, saying, that he was a good man, and of such demeanour, that they had nothing to say against liim, neither so would, if they might ; but that both human and divine reason taught them to yield more credit and He mean- confidcncc to the testimony of three bishops, than to that of two the two monks : whereby may well appear, that Anselm at that time went Gerard!' ^ot with thcm. Then Anselm, seeing how the king and his peers tii'e7r^d^ were bent, and hearing also the testimony of the three bishops, ' against whom he saw he could not prevail, and also having the pope''s seal, which he saw to be so evident on the contrary side, made his answer again, that he would send to Rome for more certainty of truth : adding, moreover, that he neither would, nor durst give over his cause, though it should cost him his life, to do or proceed against the determination of the church of Rome, unless he had a perfect waiTant of absolution from thence for his discharge. Then was it agreed by the king and his nobles, that he should not send, but go himself to Rome, and much entreaty was made that he would take that journey himself, in liis o^vn person, to present himself to the pope for the peace of the church and of his country. And so, at length, by persuasion, he was content to go to Rome and speak with the pope. In a short time after followeth also the king's ambassador, The ora- A\'illiam Warlwast, the newly elected bishop of Exeter, who there William l)leading on the king's side for the ancient customs of the realm, and atlhe^" for the king s right of investing, &c., first declared, how England, of coi'rt' '^ '^"" continuance, had ever been a province peculiar to the church of Rome, and how it payed duly its yearly tribute unto the same ; infening, moreover, how the king, as he Avas of nature very liberal, so also of courage he was a prince stout and valiant. Then what a shame would he think it to be to him, as it would indeed be, if he, who in might and dignity far exceeded all his progenitors, should not defend and maintain the liberties and customs by them procured. Wherefore he desired the pope to see to the matter, so that it might stand both with the king's honour, and also with his own profit and advantage, who, otherwise, no doubt should lose a great piece of
HAUGHTY DEMEANOUR OK THE I'OPE. 165
money out of the realm, unless lie did remit something of the severity Henry i. of liis canons and laws decretal. A.D.
Witli these and such other like persuasions to the same effect, the 1103. court of Rome was well contented, agreein ought with all favour to be granted. But the pope and Anselm sat still marking their doings. The ambassador, supposing their silence to be half a yielding unto him, added moreover and said; that the king, no not for the crown of his realm, would lose the authority of investing or admitting his prelates within his dominion.^ Where- unto the proud pope answering again, burst out in these words : a proud " Nor I," said he, " for the price of his head, as thou sayest, will fhe^iope"^ lose the giving of spiritual promotions in England ;" and, confirming it with an oath, " before God,"" saith he, " I speak it ; know it for a certainty, * for the whole price of his head, I will not permit it unto him, neither shall he have it.* ^ Then it followeth in the story of Malmesbury, that with this word of the pope the minds of the rest Avere changed, saying, " Benedicta sit cordis tui constantia, bene- dicta oris tui loquela." The king''s attorney also was therewith dashed, who, notwithstanding, brought it to pass, that certain of the king''s customs, used before of his father, were released unto him. At that time, in the same court, it was decreed, — the king only, who had invested them, being excepted, — that the others who were invested Excom- by the king should be excommunicated ; the absolution and satis- uo"n""^^*" faction of whom were left to Anselm, the archbishop. abused.
Thus Anselm, being dismissed from Rome, took his journey towards England : but the ambassador, pretending to go to St. Nicholas, remained behind, to see whether he could win the pope's mind to the king's purpose ; but when he saw it would not be, he overtaketh Anselm by the way, at Placentia, and openeth to him the king's pleasure. " The king," saith he, " giveth to you in charge and commandment, that if you will come to England, and there behave yourself to him, as yom* predecessors did to his father, you should be received and retained in the realm accordingly ; if not, you are wise enough to know what I mean, and what will follow."^ And so, with these words parting from him, he returned again to the king. Anselm remained at Lyons a year and a half, writing divers letters to the king, after this effect, and in words as followeth : —
To his reverend Lord, Henry, king of England, Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, fliithful service with prayers.^
Although ye understand by Wilham Warlwast what we have done at Rome, yet I shall shortly show you that which belongeth to nie. When I came to Rome, I declared the cause wherefore I came to the lord pope. He answered that he would not swerve from the statutes of his predecessors. Furthei-more, he commanded me that I should have no fellowship with those who received investings of churches at your hands, after the knowledge of this prohibition, unless they would do penance, and forsake that which they had received, without hope of recoveiT ; and that I should not communicate with the other bishops who had consecrated such men, except they would present themselves to the judg- ment of the apostolic see. The aforesaid Wilham can be a witness of all these
(1) Ex Giiliel. JIalmesb. de Gestis Pont. lib. i. Ex. Matth. Pari.s. lib. iii.
(2) These words are inserted from Edition lifi3, p. 31. — Ed. f3) Ex Radulph. Londinensi. (4) Epist. 22-1
166 KECONCII.IATIOX OK THK KIXG AND AKSELM.
Jlrnry I. things if lie will. Tliis William, when we departed asunder, reckoning ,ip in
your behalf the love and liberality which you have had always towards me,
A.D. warned me as your archbishop, that I should show myself such an one, that if notj- I would come into Kngland, I might be with you as my predecessor was with
vour father, and ye might treat me with the same honour and liberty that your '''''« father treated my jjredecessor. 13y which words I undersUnd, that except I
I'trnmic-ss should show myself such an one, you would not have me come into England, of a pro- For vour love and liberality I thank you; but that I should be with you as my late in a predecessor was with your father, I cannot do it, for I dare not do homage to cauTe! vou, nor do 1 dare conununicatc with those who take investings of churches at
your hands, because of the aforesaid inhibiticn made, 1 myself hearing it.
Wheretbre, I desire you to send me youi- pleasure herein, if it please you,
whether I may return into England, as I said, with your peace and the power
of mine office.
In the mean while, great business there ^vas, and much posting
went to and fro between the king, the archbishop, and the pope, but
nothing was done ; for neither Avould the pope agree to the king,
nor would the king condescend to the archbishop. At last the
archbishop, seeing that by no means he could prevail against the
king, thought to revenge himself by excommunication, and so went
about the same. The king, having word thereof by the Countess
Adela, his sister, desireth her to come to him into Normandy, and
bring Anselm with her : whereupon, by the means of the countess,
reconcilement was made, and the archbishop was restored to his
Recoil- former possessions ; only his retm-n into England was deferred,
raa(j^'^be- because he would not communicate with those whom the king had
the kin!'"^ iuvcstcd. So the king took his passage over into England, and
;;nd An- Ansclm made his abode at the abbey of Jiec.
Then were ambassadors again directed unto Rome, namely, Wil- liam Warlwast, and Baldwin, above named, the monk of Bee ; who, at length, concluded the long controversy between the king and the pope upon this agreement : that the king should take homage of the bishops elect, but should not deal with investing them by staff and ring. AVhile the ambassadors were thus in their suit at Rome, divers complaints were daily brought from England to Anselm against the priests and canons, who, in his absence, contrary to the late Priests couucil holdcu at London, received their wives into their houses again, thtk"" and so were permitted by the king, paying him certain money for the agaTii in samc.' Ansclm, the sore enemy against lawful marriage, grieved tiie ah- therewith, addresseth his letters unto the kin"-, requirinsj him to Aiitcim. refrain from any more taking of such exactions, declaring, moreover, ^'iusof '^"*^^ affirming, that the offences of all such ecclesiastical ministers eccicsi- nmst be corrected at the instance of bishops, and not of laymen, ministers To this the king answereth gently again by letters, tempering himself , none but ^^'^^^ he purjioscd shortly to come over into Normandy, and if he had JO bisi.ups done any thing amiss, either in these or other things, he would reform
to come!, V 1 1 • 1 1-
quotii it by his obedience.
Anselm. jj^ ^^..^g ^^^^^ j^^^^ after, the messengers being now returned from Rome, but the king, as lie had promised, sped him into Normandy, where Thckinr hc, warring against his brother Robert, brought both him and the Bm"e'l*^th« country of Normandy at last under his subjection. But first, meet- arrh- incr with Ansclm at the abbey of Bee, he convented and aOTCcd with
bijlinp. * •' ' "
(II Gulic). Malmcsb. lib. i. dc Gestif Tontif.
SYNODAL DECKEES OF ANSELIM. ] 67
liim in all sucli points as the archbishop required. As first, that all Henry t. his churches, ■which before were made tributary unto King William, . TT' his brother, now should remain free from all tribute. Item, that he hot.
should take none of the revenues of any of the churches, in the time
of their being vacant.' Moreover, concerning such priests and Lawful ministers as had given money to the king for their company M'iih }J^o[,y" their wives, it was agreed that they should surcease from all ecclesias- punished, tical function for the space of three years, and that the king should take no more after such manner. Item, that all such goods, fruits, and possessions, as had been taken away before from the archbishopric, should be restored at his coming again into England, &c.
This Anselm, the stout champion of popery and superstition, after pnests this victory gotten upon the king, for the which he so long fought, g"^^^" with joy and triumph saileth into England, having all his popish from their requests obtained ; where first he flieth like a lion upon the married priests, contrary to the word of God, divorcing and punishing that by man's authority, which the eternal and almighty God had coupled. Next, he looketh to them who did hold any church by farm under the king. Against simony likewise, and against them that married within the seventh degree, he proceedeth with his full pontifical authority.
Shortly after, as King Henry had finished his war in Normand}', A.D.iior. and with victory had returned again into England, in the seventh year of his reign, Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, by the permis- sion of the king, assembled a great council at Westminster, in Lon- Aup. ist. don, of the clergy and prelates of England, in the which, by the bishop of Rome's authority, he so Avrought with the king, that at length, albeit, as the story saith, not without great difficulty, it was newly confirmed and enacted, that no temporal man after that day should make investiture with cross or with ring, or with pastoral hook. In another council, sundry and divers injunctions were given forth to priests and deacons, as divers other synodal acts also by the same Anselm had been conckided in other councils before. And because here falleth in mention of the acts synodal concluded in the time of this Anselm, I thought good to pack them all in one general heap together, as I find them in Malraesbury, and in other sundry authors scatteringly recited.^
The first thing decreed by this Anselm in his synodal councils, was touching the fault of simony, for which divers, both bisliops and abbots (as is aforesaid) were at the same time deposed. Laymen, also, were forbidden to confer any ecclesiastical promotion.
Also, it was decreed, that bishops should not officiate (officium suscipiant) A.D.II02. in secular pleas, and that such should not go apparelled as the laymen did, but should have their vestures decent, and meet for religious persons, and that in all places they should never go without some to bear witness of their conver- sation.^
Item, That no archdeaconries should be let out to farm.
Item, That no archdeacon should be under tlie degree of a deacon.
Item, That no archdeacon, priest, deacon, or canon, sh.ould from tlienceforth marry a wife, nor yet keep hei', if he had been married to one before : Item, That every subdeacon, who is not a canon, after the profession of chastity marrying a wife, should be subject to the same rule.
They ordained also, that a priest keeping company with a woman, should
'I) Tlie foregoing sentence is corrected from Malmesbury. — Ed.
,2) Ex lib. Guliel. Alalniesb. de Gestis Pontif. lib. i. [Script, post Bedam, p. 228.] Ex [Ead- njerj,] Jornalensi e! nM;s f Whence the above translation is revised. — Ed.] U) See vol. i. p. ISS. — Ed.
168 SYNODAL DECREES OF AXSELM.
Henry I. iiot be rcputcd pficst, and that he should say no mass, and if he said mass, he
' — should not be heard.
^- ^' They chargtd tiiat none should be admitted to orders from that time forward, ^^Q2- from tiie dc
That priest's sons should not claim by heritage the benefices of their fathers. How then Item, That no spiritual person should sit in any secular office; or ho pro- *h* ^r curators or judges of blood.
dinrrhiVd Item, That priests should not resort to taverns or banquets, nor sit drinking chancel- bv the fire-side.'
Our'cn ^ ''^* ''"^ garments of priests should be of one colour, and that their shoes
M.ir>'» should be decent (ordinata).
time? hem, That monks, or any others of the clergy, if they forsook their order,
either should come back again, or be excommunicated.
Item, That the clergy should wear their crowns broad-shaved (patentes). Item, That no tithes should be given but to the churches. Item, That no churches or prebends should be bought. That no new chapels should be made without consent of the bishop. That no church should be hallowed, before the necessar}' provision were made for the priest and for the church to be maintained.
Tiiat abbots should make no knights (milites), and that they must both sleep and eat in the same house with their monks, unless some great necessity do let.
Item, That monks do enjoin no penance to any man without the consent of the abbot; and that their abbots give no license therein, but only touching such persons toward whom they have a cure of souls.
That no monks should be godfathers, or nuns godmothers. That monks should have no lordships to farm.
Item, Tliat monks should take no churches but by the bishop, neither should 30 spoil of their fruits the churches given unto them, that suflScient be not left for maintaining the churches and the ofiiciating ministers of the same.
Tiiat privy contracts of marriage between man and woman without witness should not stand, but be frustrated, if either party do go from the contract.
Item, That such persons as did wear long hair should be so rounded, that part of their ears appear, and that their eyes be not covered.
Item, That there be no marriage between parties akin to the seventh gene- ration, and that it do not continue if they be married, but that the marriage be broken. And that if any one privy to that incest do not detect the same, he to be held guilty of the same crime.
Item, That no corpses be carried forth to burial out of their own parish, so that the priest thereof do lose that which to him is due.
Item, That no man, upon any rash desire of novelty, do attribute any opinion of holiness or pay reverence to dead men's bodies, to fountains, or to any other thing, as the use hath been in time past, without authority of the bishop.
Item, That the infamous traffic of buying and selling of men like brute animals, be no longer used in England.
Also, after the restraint of priests' marriage, when unnatural crimes began to come in consequence thereof, they were forced to make another act, which was this, passed in this council.
" With a grievous curse we condemn both those that occupy unnatural vice, and those also that willingly assist them or be wicked doers with them in the same ; till such time as they may deserve absolution by penance and con- fession.
" lUit whosoever shall be noised or proved to be of this wickedness, if he be of a religious order, he shall from thenceforth be promoted to no degree of honour, and he shall he deposed from any which he hath.
" If he be a lay person, he shall be deprived of his quality within the land, and be no better than a foreigner.
" And if he be a secular, let none but the bishop presume to absolve him.
" lie it also enacted, that the said curse be published on every Sunday, in every parish church of England."
(1) " Ut prcsbyteri non eanl ad pntationcs, nee ad pinnas bibanl." See Appendix. — Ei>'
PENALTIES AGAINST MARRIED PRIESTS. 160
But mark in this great matter what followed ; for, as Ranulpluis ii Cestrensis witnesseth, this grievous general curse was soon called . ■ back again by the suit of certain who persuaded Anselm, that the i los.
publication, or opening of that vice, gave kindlings to the same in the
Jiearts of lewd persons, ministering occasion of more boldness to them to do the like :' and so, to stop the occasion of this vice, the publication thereof was taken away ; but the forbidding and restrain- ment of priests' lawful marriage, which chiefly was the cause thereof, remained still. And thus, ever since, this horrible crime remained t among the clergy, both for lack of marriage being more used, and for lack of publication less punished.
Besides all these synodal acts above comprehended, and given out by Anselm in his councils before, at another council, held in London at Whitsuntide in the eighth year of this king [May 24tli, a.d. 1|08], he also directed other new injunctions to the priests.
First, That the priests, deacons, and subdeacons, should live chastely, and Penalties retain no woman in their house, unless they were of their next kin. ^".^ 'or-
Jtem, That they who had retained their wives, or taken new ones, against the against council of London,- should never more meet them in one house, nor should priests their wives dwell in the church territory. that keep
Item, That such as had dissevered themselves from the society of their wives, wives, and yet, for some honest cause, had to communicate with them, might do so if it were without door, and with at least two lawful witnesses.
Item, If any one of them should be accused by two or three witnesses of in the breaking this statute, and could not purge himself again by six able men of his '^"^'^ own order, if he be a priest, or if he be a deacon by four, or if he be a subdeacon come*'''^" by two, then he should be judged a transgressor of the statute, deprived of his false office and benefice, and not be admitted into the quire, but be treated as infamous, l^'^^'lf "^^ " Item, He that rebelled, and in contempt of this new statute held still his ding inar- wife, and presumed to say mass, upon the eighth day after, if he made not due "age and satisfaction, should he solemnly excommunicated. meats °^
Item, All archdeacons and deacons to be strictly sworn not to wink or &c. dissemble at their meetings, or to bear with them for money. And if they would not be sworn to this, then to lose their offices without recovery.
Item, Such priests, as forsaking their wives were willing to serve still, and Purifi- remain in their holy order, first must cease forty days from their ministration, cation of setting vicars for them in the mean time to serve, and taking such penance upon ?h!u had them, as by their bishop should be enjoined them. been mar-
ried.
Thus have ye heard the tedious treatise of the life and doings of Anselm, how superstitious in his religion, how stubborn against his prince he was, what occasion of war and discord he would have ministered by his complaints, if they had been taken, what zeal with- out right knowledge, what fervency without cause he pretended, what pains without profit he took ; who, if he had bestowed that time and travel in preaching Christ at home to his flock, which he took in gadding to Rome, to complain of his country, in my mind, he had been better occupied. Moreover, what violent and tyrannical in- junctions he set forth of investing and other things, ye have heard ; but especially against the lawful and godly marriage of priests. What a vehement adversary he was, in that respect, may appear by these minutes or extracts of letters, Avhich we have here annexed ; in form and effect as followeth : —
1) Ranulph. Cestrensis, lib. vU. (2) See supra, pp. 160, 166.
170 T.F.TTEUS OF PASCHAL AND ARCHBISHOP AXSELM.
Tirvriji. A Letter of Ansclm.
A. D. Anselin, archbishop, to his brethren and dearest sons, the lord prior and 1108. others at Canterbur}-.'
Kinft As concerning priests, of whom the king commanded that thoy shonld have
plnnf'tcd ^"^'' their churches and their women as tliey had in the time of his father, and priest* to of Liuifranc, archi)isiiop : both because the king Imth revested and reseized the have iK.th ^vlioU' archbishopric, and because so cursed a marriage was forbidden in a rimrchej ^.^j^jj^.j! j,j ,]^p ji,„^, „f jjjg father and of the said archbishop : boldly I command, wives. by tlie authority wliicli I have by my archbishopric, not only within my arch- bishopric, but also throughouc England, that all priests, who keep wives, shall be deprived of their churches and ecclesiastical benefices.
A Letter of Pope Paschal to Ansclm.
Pascal, bishop, servant of God's servants, to his reverend brother Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, greeting and apostolicid blessing.^ P.^pe We believe your brotherhood is not ignorant what is decreed in the Romish
hath so church concerning priests' children. But because there is so great a midtitude decreed it of such within the realm of England, that almost the greater and better part of nt Home. {},(, clerks are reckoned to be on this side, therefore we commit this dispensation pVies'ts to your care ; for we grant these to be promoted to holy offices by reason of the must need at this time, and for the profit of the church (such as learning and life v'ives"'* ^^^'' commend among you), so that, yet notwithstanding, the prejudice of the If profit ecclesiastical decree be taken heed to hereafter, &c.
of the church
"lay"'"^ Another Letter of Ansclm for Investing.
by priests ~
what hurt To the Reverend Lord and loving Father Paschal, high bishop, Anselm, then were servant of Canterbury church, due subjection and continual prayers,
church After I returned to my bishopric in England I showed the apostolical decree,
for priests ^yhich I being present heard in the Romish coimcil. 1. That no man should wives? receive investing of churches at the kings hand, or any lay person's, or should King become his man for it, and that no man should presume to consecrate him that Henry dj^ off'end herein. When the king and his nobles, and the bishops themselves, and nobles others of the lower degree, heard these things, they took them so grievously, that really to they said, they would in no case agree to the thing, and that they would drive [h"u^^- '"^ °^^^ ^^ ^^^ kingdom, and forsake the Romish church, rather than keep this mish thing. ^Mierefore, reverend father, I desire your counsel by your letter, &c. church.
Another Letter of Anselm.
Ansclm, archbishop, to the Reverend Gudulph, bishop, and to Arnulph, prior, and to William, archdeacon of Canterbury, and to all in his diocese, greeting.^" Ajainst Williamj our archdeacon, hath WTitten to me, that some priests that be under priests re- |^jg custody (taking again their women that were forbidden) have fallen unto the again "^ uncleanness from the which they were drawn by wholesome counsel and com- their mandment. When the archdeacon would amend this thing, they utterly Priests despised, with wicked pride, his warning and worthy commandment to be excom received. Then he, calling together many religious men and obedient priests, catt'd for ^^communicated worthily the proud and disobedient, who beastly despised the receiving curse, and were not afraid to defile the holy ministry, as much as lay in !iK3in them. &c. •heir wives.
Unto these letters above prefixed, I have also adjoined another of the said Ansclm, touching a great case of conscience, of a monk''s whipping himself. AVhcrein may appear both the blind and lament- able superstition of those religious men, and the judgment of this Ansclm in the same matter.
(1) Ex cpist. Ansel. 7," cl 377. (2) Ex cpist. 3.^. (3) E.\ epist.37
TREATMEN'T OF TWO ARCHBISHOPS OE MENTZ. 171
Anotlier Letter of Anselm. "'""J ^-
' Anselm, archbishop, to Bernard, monk of the abbey of St. Warburg, greet- ''^- D- ing and prayer.' \w^ .
I heard it said of your lord abbot, that thou judgcst it to be of greater merit, wiicther
wlien a monk either beats himseJi', or desireth himself to be beaten of another than J^eruTor
when he is beaten (not of his own will) in the chapter, by the commandment of the ;i monk to
nrelacv. But it is not as you think, for that iudgment which any man commandeth cause r, ..'•„. , . , , •' , , • , 1 ,!■ .1 1 1 V ■ ii I, i. • himself 111
to hnnself, is kingly ; but that which he sutiereth by obedience in tne chapter, is ti,e dia])-
monkish. The one is of his own will ; the other is of obedience, and not of his ter to i,c own will. That which I call kingly, kings and rich proud men commanded to ^'^^j'^'j^}: be done to themselves ; but that which I call monkish, they take not command- fer obe- ing, but obeying. The kingly is so much easier, by how much it agreeth to the ^'^"^?>'. \n\\ of the sufferer ; but the monkish is so much the more grievous, by how pjng'^of ''' much it diflereth from the will of the sufierer. In the kingly judgment, the his abbot, sufferer is judged to be his own ; in monkish he is proved not to be his own : for althougli the king, or rich man, when he is beaten, willingly showeth himself humbly to be a sinner; yet he would not submit himself to this humble- ness at any other's commandment, but would withstand the commander with all his strength. But when a monk submitteth himself to the whip humbly in the chapter at the will of the prelate, the truth judgeth him to be of so much greater merit, by how much he humbleth himself more and more, and more truly than the other. For he humbleth himself to God only, because he kno'weth his sins, but this man humbleth liimself to man for obedience. But he is more lowly that humbleth himself both to God and man for God's cause, than he which humbleth himself to God only, and not to God's commandment. Therefore, if he that humbleth himself shall be extolled, ergo, he that more humbleth himself, shall be more exalted. And where I said, that when a monk is whipped, it differeth from his will, you must not so understand it, as though he would not patiently bear it with an obedient will, but because by a natural appetite he would not suffer the soitow. But if ye say, I do not so much fly the open beating for the pains (which I feel also secretly), as for the shame ; know then that he is stronger that rejoiceth to bear this for obedience' sake. Therefore be thou sure, that one whipping of a monk by obedience is of jhe judg- more merit than innumerable whippings taken by his own mind. But ment of whereas he is such that he always ought to have liis heart ready without mur- on"thJ" muring obediently to be whipped, we ought to judge him then to be of a great case. murit, whether he be whipped privily or openly, &c.
And thus much concerning Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, whose stout example gave no little courage to Thurstin and Becket, his successors, and others that followed after, to do the like against their kings and princes, as in process hereafter by the grace of Christ shall appear.
About this time, two famous archbishops of Mentz, being right virtuous and well-disposed prelates, were cruelly and tpannously dealt withal, and treated by the bishop of Rome. Their names were Henry and Christian. This Henry, having intelligence that he was complained of to the pope, sent a learned man, a special friend of his, to excuse him, named Arnold ; one for whom he had done much, and whom he had promoted to gi-eat livings and promotions. But this honest man Arnold, instead of an excuser, became an accuser, bribing the two chiefest cardinals with good gold ; by which judges means he obtained of the pope, those two cardinals to be sent ^upted as inquisitors and only doers in that present case. They, coming to Germany, summoned the said Henry, and deposed him from his archbishopric in spite of all he could do either by law or justice, substituting in his place the aforesaid Arnold, in hope, truly, of the
(1) Exepist. 255.
112 INVKSTITrUE OF A POPE.
lunryi. ccclcslastical iioU. ^V'licrcupon tlmt virtuous and honourable Henry, ^ P as the storv tellcth, spake unto those his perverse judges on this wise 1101*. " I'" I ^h(ml(l appeal unto the apostolic see for this your unjust pro-
cess had ajrainst nie, perhaps the pope would attempt nothing more
therein than ye have, neither should I win any thing by it, but only toil of body,' loss of goods, affliction of mind, care of heart, and missinf^ of his favour. Wherefore I do appeal unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as the most high and just judge, and cite you before his judgment, there to answer ine before the high Judge ; for neither justly nor godlv, but by corruption as it pleaseth you, you have judi^ed."" "\Vhereunto tliey scotiingly answered: " Go you first, and we "will follow." Not long after, as the story goes, the said Henry ^^amvil^ died, wliercof the said two cardinals having intelligence, said one for cor- to the other jestingly: " Behold, he is gone before, and we must judges to follow according to our promise." And verily, they said truer than beware. ^^^^ were awarc of; for within a while they died both in one day. For the one, sitting upon a jakes to ease himself, voided out all his entrails into the draught, and miserably ended his life ; the other gnaw- ing off the fingers of his hands, and spitting them out of his mouth, all deformed in devouring himself, died. And in like wise, not long after the end of these men, the aforesaid Arnold most horribly in a sedition was slain ; and three days, lying stinking above the ground unburied, was open to the spoil of every rascal and harlot. The historiographer^ in declaring hereof crieth upon the cardinals in this manner : " O ye cardinals, ye are the beginning and authors hereof. Come hither, draw out now, and bear unto your master the devil, and together with that money which you have gulped down, offer him yourselves also." A.D.iioo. About the same time and year in which King Henry began his reign. Pope Paschal entered his papacy, succeeding Urban, about A.D. 1100, nothing swerving from the steps of Hildebrand, his superior. This Paschal, being elected by the cardinals, after the people had cried thrice, " St. Peter hath chosen good Rainerus ;" he then popVs putting on a purple vesture, and a tiara upon his head, was brought attire, upou a white palfrey into Lateran, where a sceptre was given him, and a girdle put about him having seven keys, Avith seven seals hanging lc\\i\A tliPrcupon for a recognisance or token of his sevenfold power, accord- power of ing to the sevenfold grace of the Holy Ghost, of binding, loosing, "'"'"''"^\ shutting, opening, sealing, resigning, and judging. After this Paschal was elected pope, Henry IV., the aforesaid emperor (of courage most valiant, if the time had served thereto,) thought to come up to Italy to salute the new pope ; but, understanding the pope's mind bent against him, he changed his purpose. In the mean time, Paschal, to show himself inferior to Hildebrand in no point, began first to depose all such abbots and bishops as the emperor had set up. Also he banished Albert, Thcodoric, and Maginulph, striving at the same time for the papacy. I spake before of Guibert, whom Henry, the emperor, had made pope against Hildebrand. Paschal made out an army against this Guibert, who, being put to ^^,. flight, not long after departed.
b^IJ^nand ^bout thc siuuc time, A.D. 1101, the bishop of Florence^ began to m.-inifcst. teach and to preach of antichrist then to be born and to be manifest,
\\) C-jtir^tli Cliroii. MoguiiUacuni. See Appendix. —Kr. (3) Sec vol. iii. p. 103.— Fn.
WAR BETWEEN THE EMPEUOK AND HIS SON. 173
as Sabellicus testifietli; whereupon Paschal assembling a council at Flo- iiemy i. rence put to silence the said bishop, and condemned his books. In his ~7~~r7~ council at Troyes, priests tliat were married were condemned for Nico- j Jqj' laitans : Item, according to the decree of Hildebrand, all such of what to degree or estate soever they were (being laymen) who gave any ecclesi- n06. astical dignities, were condemned of simony : Furthermore, the statute a council of priests' tithes he there renewed, counting the selling away thereof as a.d!i'io7! a sin against the Holy Ghost, Concerning the excommunication and other troubles, that Hildebrand wrought against Henry IV. the emperor, it is declared sufficiently before. This excomnumication Atragicai Paschal, the pope, renewed ali-esh against the said Henry ; and not PopePas- only that, but also conventing the princes of Germany unto a general t|nt''the'" assembly, he set up his own son against him, causing the bishops of s""". Men tz, Cologne, and Worms, to deprive him of his imperial crown, and the fa- to place his son Henry V. in his father's kingdom ; and so they did.' ^^"- ■ Coming to the palace at Ingelheim, first they required from him his diadem, his purple, his ring, and other ornaments pertaining to the crown. The emperor demanded the cause, being then excomnumi- cated and void of friends. They pretended again, I cannot tell what, — the selling of bishoprics, abbacies, and other ecclesiastical dignities for money ; also alleging the pope's pleasure and that of other princes. Then required he first of the bishop of Mentz, and likewise of the other two, whom he had preferred to their bishoprics before, asking them in order, if he had received of them any penny for his promoting them to their dignities. This when they could not deny to be so, " Well," saith he, " and do you requite me again with this.P"" with divers other words of exhortation, admonishing them to remem- ber their oath and allegiance to their prince. But the peijured Tiie pre- prelates, neither reverencing his majesty, nor moved with his benefits, thJ'son nor regarding their fidelity, ceased not for all this, but first plucked \lfll!: from him, sitting on his throne, his crown imperial, and then dis- ther. vestured him, taking from him his purple and his sceptre. The good emperor, being left desolate and in confusion, saith to them : " Vi- deat Deus et judicet :"" that is, " Let God see and judge." Thus leaving him, they w^ent to his son to confirm him in his kingdom, and caused him to drive his father out ; who then being chased of his son, and having but nine persons about him, did flee by way of the dukedom of Limburgh, where the duke being then hunting, and per- ceiving and hearing of him, made after to follow him. The emperor fearing no other than present death, for he had displaced the same duke before out of his dukedom, submitted himself, craving of him pardon, and not revenge. The duke, full of compassion, and pitying a prKtefui his estate, not only remitted all his displeasure, but also received him of a ' ..od to his castle. Moreover, collecting his soldiers and men of war, he ^"ankfui brought him to Cologne, and there he was well received. His son '^u^^- hearing this, besieged that city. But the father, by night escaping, came to Liege, where resorted to him all such as were men of com- passion and constant heart, insomuch that his power, being strong enough, he was now able to pitch a field against his enemies, and so he did, desiring his friends, that if he had the victory, they would spare his son. In fine, the battle joined, the father had the victory,
(1) F.x Histona Helmoldi.
174 THE I'Ol'E TAKKN I'UISONER.
Henry I the .soH bciiij,' put to HiLrlit, .iiiJ luany slaiH on both sides. But
~A.lx~ shortly atlcr, the battle being renewed again, the son prevailed, and
1112. the lather was c.vereome and taken; who then, being utterly dis-
possessed of his kingdom, w;is brought to that exigency, that coming
kiJfdncss to Spires, he was feign to crave of the bishop there, whom he had done
p'reiMJ""* niueh for before, to have a prebend in the church : and for that he
had some skill in his book, he desired to serve in our Lady's quire ;
vet could he not obtain so much at his hand, who swore by our Lady,
iie should have notliing there.' Thus the woeful emperor, most
unkindly handled, and repulsed on every side, came to Liege, and
there for sorrow died, after he had reigned forty years ; whose body
Tiie cm- Paschal, after his funeral, caused to be taken up again, and to be
ye^I"**^ brought to Spires, where it remained five years unburicd.^
without After the decease of this emperor Henry IV., his- son Henry V.
reigned the space of twenty years. This prince coming to Rome
to be crowned of the pope, could not obtain it, before he would fully
A.D.iio?. assent to have this ratified, that no emperor should have any thing to
em^^or. do with the election of the Roman bishop, or ^vith other bishoprics.^
Besides that, about the same time, such a stir was made in Rome by
the said bishop, that if the emperor had not defended himself with
his o\vn hands, he had been slain. But as it happened, the emperor
having victory, amongst many other Romans slain or taken in the
The pope same skirmish, taketli also the pope and leadeth him out of the city ;
prib^o'i'ier. where he inlfcn.teth with him upon divers conditions, both of his
coronation, and of recovering again his right and title in the election
of the pope, and of other bishops : whereunto the pope assenting agreed
to all. So the emperor, being crowned by Paschal, returned again
with the pope of Rome.
All the conditions between the emperor and the pope, so long as
the emperor remained at Rome, stood firm and ratified ; but. as
soon as the emperor was returned again to Germany, forthwith the
pope, calling a synod, not only revoked all that he had agreed to
before, but also excommunicated Henry, the emperor, as he had done
^^/ir his father before, reproving the fomier ' privilegium'' for ' pravilegium.'
thepov/ The emperor, returning fi-om Rome to France, there married
Matilda, daughter to King Henry; who then hearing what the pope
had done, (grieved not a little,) with all expedition marched to Rome,
and puttetli the pope to flight, and finally placeth another in his
stead. In the mean time the bishops of Germany, the pope's good
friends, slacked not their business, incensing the Saxons all that they
might against their Ceesar ; insomuch that a great commotion was
stirred up, and it grew at length to a pitched field, which was fought
in the month of February, by the wood called Sylva Catularia.
P,.ape The emperor seeing no end of these conflicts, imless he Avould
bet«^"e'!r^ yield to the pope, was fain to give over, and forego his privilege, fall-
thecm- ing to a composition, not to meddle with matters pertaining to the
the pope, pope's clcction, nor with investing, nor such other things belonging to
the church and churchmen ; and thus was the peace between them
concluded, and proclaimed to the no small rejoicing of both the armies,
then lying by Wonns, near the river Rhine.
(1) Ex Helmoldo, et Gotfrido Viterbionst. (2) Ex Hclmolc'.o,

and liis pai
EXCOMMUNICATIOX OF THK EMPEIIOK. 175
In the time of this Paschal lived Bernard, called Abbot of Clair- Uenryi. vaux, A.D. 1108, of whom sprang the Bernardino monks. "aTdT
About this time the city of Worcester was almost consmiied with n]9.' fire.
All this while Henry the emperor had no issue, having to wife dine Matilda, the daughter of Henry I., king of England, and that by the come^-,,. just judgment of God, as it may appear ; for as he, having a father, I'^l^"^^^ persecuted him by the pope^s setting on, contrary to the part of a tester ai- natural son ; so God's providence did not suffer him to be the father eonsumea of any child, naturally to love him, or to succeed him. ^^^ ^"''■
After the death of Paschal, a.d. 1118, succeeded Pope Gelasius, Lord's chosen by the cardinals, but without the consent of the emperor, iuUon "" whereupon rose no little variance in Rome ; and at length another ment!"^^' pope was set up by the emperor, called Gregory VHI., and Gelasius two^ was driven away into France, and there died. After him came strivinpr Calixtus II., chosen likewise by a few cardinals, without the voice q{^°s^^''"- the emperor, wdio, coming up to Rome to enjoy his seat, first sent his The pope legate into Germany to excommunicate the emperor Henry ; who munu-a:- then, having divers conflicts wdth his fellow pope Gregory, at length, ^^^^^^^^_ drave him out of Rome. At this time, by this occasion, great dis- putation and controversy arose between the emperor and the pope's court, whether of them in dignity should excel the other ; whereof reasons and arguments on both sides were alleged, which in the verses below are comprehended.
AUegatio imperatoris contra papam.
Caesar lex viva stat regibus imperativa, Legeque sub viva sunt omnia jura dativa :
Lex ea castigat, solvit, at ipsa ligat. Conditor est legis, neque debet lege teneri, Sed sibi complacuit sub lege libenter haberi :
Quicquid ei placuit, juris adinstar erat. Qui ligat ac solvit Deus ipsum protulit orbi, Divisit regnum divina potentia secum,
Astra dedit superis, Ccetera cuncta sibi.
Responsio Romanee curiae contra imperatorem.
Pars quoque papalis sic obviat imperiali. Sic regnare damns, quod Petro subjiciaris :
Jus etenim nobis Christus utrumque parit. Spiritus et corpus mihi sunt subjecta potenter, Corpora ten-ena teneo, coelestia mente,
Unde, tenendo polum, solvo ligoque solum, ^thera pandere, ccelica tangere, papa videtur. Nam dare, toUere, nectere, solvere cuncta meretur,
Cui dedit om.ne decus lex nova, lexque vetus : Annulus et baculus,quamvis terrena putentur, Sunt de jure poli; quae significare videntur,
Respice jura Dei : mens tua cedat ei. &e.
In conclusion, the emperor being overcome so much with the vain reasons of the pope's side, and fearing the dangerous thunderbolt of his curse, (talking with princes, and persuaded with his friends,) was
176 ONE pope's treatment of another.
jifnryi. fain to comlcsccnil to the unreasonable conditions of the pope: first, ^ j3 to ratify his election, notwithstanding the other pope (whom the said 110
iiis right and title in matters pertaining to the election of the pope,
and investure of bishops.
This being done and granted, and the writings thereof set up in the church of Lateran, for a triumph over the emperor thus subdued, the pope maketli out after Gregory, his fellow-pope, being then in a Gregory town callcd Sutrium ; which being besieged and taken, Gregory also brought ^.j^^ taken;' whom, Calixtus the pope, setting him upon a camel, Rome by with liis facc to the camePs tail, brought him thus through the streets I'isn^r' of Rome, holding the tail in his hand instead of a britUe ; and after- cai!id'8 ward, being shorn, he was thrust into a monastery.
The Em- the dccrccs of the papal see against this emperor. He brought in by'^whom the four quarter fasts, called Ember days.^
brouTt"^ By the same Calixtus the order of monks, called Praemonstratenses, in, and was brouglit in.
Further, by him it was decreed to be judged for adultery, if any ofmonks, pcrson, during his lifetime, had put from him either bishopric or fuat^n" benefice ; grounding upon this scripture of St. Paul to the Romans, ses. " 'j^^Ijp ^yifg ig bound to the law of her husband, so long as the hus- ciorkiy band livcth ; after he is dead she is loosed from the law of her
applied by i , i ii c
the pope. Imsband, 6cc.
^""'^ Item, the same Calixtus, holding a general council at Rheims, ministers dccrccd that pricsts, deacons, and subdeaeons, should put away their peiied concubines and wives ; and that whosoever was found to keep his wife, the'fr*^^ should be deprived of benefice, and all other ecclesiastical livings : wives, whereupon a certain English writer made these verses following : —
" 0 bone Calixtc, nunc omnis clerus odit te : Quondam presbyteri poterant uxoribus uti, Hoc destruxisti, postquam tu papa fiiisti," &c.
That is, word for word, —
" The hatred of the clergy hast thou, good Calixtus, For sometimes priests might use their wives right ; But that thou hast rejected, since pope thou wast elected."
A.D.1109. ^^^ thus much of the Roman matters. Now to our country story again. After the death of Anselm beforeraentioned, who deceased 1109, after he had been in the see fifteen years, the church of Canterbury stood void five years ; and the goods of the church were spent to the king''s use. When he was prayed to help the church that was so long without a pastor, he in his answer pre- tended that as his father and brother had been accustomed there to set the best tried and approved men that might be found, so to the intent that he might do the same, in choosing those who either should equal the former exani])lcs of them before, or at least follow their footsteps as near as they could, he took therein the more time and leisure. And so with shift of answer he dallied out the time, while
']) i:x I'latiiiii, Viiicenlio, Stella, &c. (2) Dist. 70, cap. Jrjunium.
DISSENSIOXS BETWEEN THE TWO METIIOPOLITAXS. |77
he had filled liis cofFers with the commodities of tliat benefice. Tlic //,.„,,, /.
same year, after tlie death of Anselm, the king converted the abbey ^ -
of Ely to a bishopric, which before was under the bishopric of Lin- ]Y]5"
coin ; placing there Henry, bishop of Bangor, as the first bishop of ^^^^ ^. -
that see. And, as of late years before this, divers wonders were siin!)ric of
seen, as stars falling from heaven so thick that they could not be piln't'.'j'
numbered, at the setting forth of the Christians to the Holy Land;*
a blazing star over Constantinople ; a spring boiling out blood, seen at
Finchamstead, in Berkshire, three weeks together, a. d. 1090.' After
that, the firmament appeared so red, as if it had been all on fire ;
also two full moons appeared together, one in the east, the other in
the west, on ISIaunday Thursday ; with a blazing star, in the same
year, appearing about the taking of Duke Robert, having a white circle
enclosing it ; a. d. 1106.* Also with an eclipse of the sun darkened
after that. So likewise about this present year, a.d. 1110, was seen a.d.iho.
the flood of Trent, about Nottingham, so dried vip from morning to drku up.
three of the clock at afternoon, that men might go over it dry shod.'*
Also in Shrewsbury a great earthquake happened; and after that Ajieartu-
foUowed a sharp winter, great mun-ain of beasts and pestilence of ^"y^'^rain,
men, as Gualter Gisburn recordeth.''' INloreover the same author andpesti-
mentioneth, that about the same year the like vading of water a.d.ihs.
also happened in the flood of Medway ; and in the Thames, between terc^n-
the bridoe and the Tower, and under the bridge, from midnight to ^".??'^'l
• 111- iif. ^^"'''^ '"'^
the next evenmg, was so great an ebb, that an mnumerable sort of
people and children waded over, scarcely knee deep in the water, the
sea withdrawing his tide ten miles from his accustomed course.® In
this year also, as the said authors and Jornalensis do testify, the city
of Worcester by casualty was consumed with fire ; also the city of
Chester, a.d. 1114.' a.d.hh.
The same year (a.d. 1114) Rodolph, bishop of Rochester, an Dissen- Englishman, was promoted to be archbishop of Canterbury ; and tween^ Thurstin, the king"'s chaplain, was elected archbishop of York ; who, Jf Y^k"' being content to receive his benediction or consecration of the see of and ro- Canterbury, yet, because he refused to make his profession of obe- ar"eiibi- dience to the same see, was by the king deprived of his dignity. cl^me"^
Then Thurstin, by the instigation of certain of his clerks at York, ^ury, for took his journey to Rome; wdio, there making his complaint to Pope tion. Paschal, brought with him a letter from the pope to the king, where, a.d.ihs. among other words was contained as followeth :* " We hear and Theiettcr understand, that the archbishop elect of the church of York, a cL^To discreet and industrious man, is sequestered from the church of ^i"s York ; which standeth against both divine justice and the institu- tion of the holy fathers. Our purpose is, that neither the church of Canterbury should be impaired, nor again that the church of York should suffer any prejudice, but that the same constitution, which
1) Jornaleiibis. (2) Gisburn. (3) Jornalensis. (4) Gisburn.
(5) Gisburn. (6) Rog. Hoved, Gisburn, &c. (7) Rog. Hovcd.
(8) " Audivimus electum Eboracencis ecclesise, virum sapientem et strenuum, sine judicio ab Eboracensi sequestratum ecclesia, quod nimiruni divinse justitis et sanct. patrum institutionibus adversatur. Nos quidem neque Cant, ecclesiam niinui, neque Eboracensem volumus prcejudiciuni pati, sedeam constitutionem quae abeato Gregorio, Anplicae pentis Apostolo, inter ea.>-deni cccle- sias constituta est, tirmam censemus illibatamque servari. Idem ergo electus, ut justitia cxigit, ad suam ecclesiam omnibus modis revocetur. Si quid autcni quaestionis inter easdem ecclesias nascitur, presentibus utrisque partibus in vestra pra;sentia pertractotur," S:c. — Ex Gualtero Gis- buniensi, exGulicl. Malmesb. de Puntif. lib. iv. Kx Roger. Uoved. Fabian. &c. vol,. II, X
17S ACTS OF Tin: col-ncil or khi.ims.
// ,^ ,) decreed between those two churches, should remain still in force and 11 IP. effect inviolate. Wherefore, as touching the aforesaid elect, let him
be received ao-ain bv any means, as right and meet it is, into his
church. And if there be any question between the aforesaid churches,
let it be handled and tlecided in your presence, both the two parties
being there present.""
A.D iiifi. Uj)on occasion of this letter there was a solemn assembly appointed
Assembly ,^j. s^^jj^ji^m-y^ about the hearing of this controversy. The variance
nobles at bctwccu thcsc two prclatcs still increased more and more. Rodulph,
archbishop of Canterbury, in no case would yield or condescend to
give imposition of hands unto him, unless he Mould make his profes-
Tiiuntin sion of obcdicnce. Thurstin again said, he would willingly receive
rifuseth j^^i embrace his benediction ; but as touching the profession of his
to proicss o r ^
subjec- subjection, that he would not agi-ee to. Then the king, declaring thTareh- liis miud therein, signified unto Thurstin, that, without his subjection canufr-"'' ^^^^ obcdiencc professed to the archbishop of Canterbury, he should I'ury. not enjov his consecration to be archbishop of York. Whereunto
and to ■'. •" ,. ,. . II- 11-T
renounce 1 hurstm, uothmg Tcplymg agam, renounced his archbisliopric, pro- ins see. ^jisijjg^ moreover, to make no more claim unto it, nor to molest tliose
who should enjoy it.
A.D.1118. Shortly after' this, it happened that Pope Paschal died; after
whom, as is above-rehearsed, succeeded Pope Gelasius, who lived not
a year, and died in France. Whereupon the cardinals, who then
followed the said Pope Gelasius unto Clugny, created another pope
of their own choosing, whom they called Calixtus II. The other
cardinals who were at Rome did choose another pope, called Gregory,
of whom mention before is made : about which two popes much stir
there was in Christian realms. As this Calixtus was remaining in
France, and there calling a general council at Rheims, as ye heard
before, Thurstin, the archbishop of York, desired license of the
king to go to the coimcil, purposing there to open the cause of his
church ; which eftsoons he obtained : first promising the king that
he would there attempt nothing that should be prejudicial to the
Thurstin church of Canterbury. In the mean time the king had sent secret
c?ated word uuto the pope by Rodulph and other procurators, that in no case
shop''of ^'^ would consecrate Thurstin. Yet, notwithstanding the fiiithful
York i)y promise of the pope made to the king, so it fell out, that the said
against _ popc, tlirough the suit of his cardinals, whom Thurstin had won to
inland'"''* him, was inclined to consecrate him, and gave him the pall. For
this deed the king was sorely discontented with Thurstin, and warned
him the entry of this land.
Council j^ ti^jv. council at Rheims, abovementioned, where were gathered
Kheims. 434 prelates, these five principal acts were concluded :
1 . Tliat no man should cither buy or sell any bishopric, abbotship, deanery, archdeaconship, priestliood, prebendship, altar, or any ecclesiastical promotion or benefice, orders, consecration, church-hallowing, seat or stall within the quire, or any office ecclesiastical, under danger of cxcommimication if he did persist.
2. That no layperson should give investiture of any ecclesiastical possession; and that no spiritual num slioidd receive any such at any lajnnan's hand, luider j);un of deprivation.
Li. Tliiit no man slioidd invade, take away, or detain the goods or posse.Bsiona
IIKN'RY THE KMPKROR KXCOMMUNICATED. 179
of the church ; but that they should remain finn and perpetual, under pain of iievry l. perpetual curse. . .- ~
4. That no bishop or priest should leave any ecclesiastical dignity or benefice ^'^ •
to any by way of inheritance. Adding, moreover, that for baptism, chrism, ^^•^"
annoiling, or burial, no money should be exacted.
5. That all priests, deacons, and subdeacons, should be utterly debarred and sequestered from company of their wives and concubines, under pain of exclusion from all christian communion.
The acts thus determined were sent at once to Henry, the empe- The acts ror, to see and try, before the breaking up of the council, whether theVm- he would agree to the canonical elections, free consecration, and p'^""'- investing of spiritual persons, and to other acts of the council. The The em- emperor maketh answer again, that he would lose nothing of that agreeih ancient custom which his progenitors had given him. Notwithstand- p°j'J.°\'^': ing, because of the authority of the general council, he was content vesting. to consent to the residue, save only the investing of ecclesiastical function to be taken from him, to which he Avould never agree.* Upon this, at the next return of the pope to the council, the emperor was appointed to be excommunicated ; which thing, when divers of the council did not well like, and therefore did separate themselves from the rest, the pope applying against them the similitude of the seventy disciples Avho were offended at the Lord, when he taught them of eating of his flesh and blood, and therefore divided themselves from him, declaring, moreover, to them, how they who gathered not with him scattered, and they that were not with him were against him : by these, and such like persuasions, reduced them again to his side ; and so, bv that council, Henry the emperor was excommunicated. Henry
It was not long after that the pope came to. (jisors, where Henry, king of England, resorted to him, desiring, and also obtaining «■ ^ of him, that he would send henceforth no legate, nor permit any to E"gj^a^'^J be sent from Rome to England, unless the king himself should so n" le'^ga'te require, by reason of some occasion of strife, which else could not be ^"^^ otherwise decided by his own bishops at home. The cause why the but^tiie king required this of the pope was, for that certain Roman legates shop of had been in England a little before ; to wit, one Guide, and another ^^';^^'- Roman, named Anselm, and another also called Peter, who had f^si^^^^ spoiled the realm of great treasure, as the accustomed manner of the Jhe^popes proud pope's legates is wont to be.^ Also he required of the pope ^^'"^'• that he might use and retain all the customs used before by his fore^ fathers in England and in Normandy.
To these petitions the pope did easily consent, requiring again of Aii^th«^ the king that he would license Thurstin, the archbishop above-named, of jhe to return with favour into his realm. But that the king utterly I^m denied, unless he would profess subjection to the church of Canter- °'^|^'^;^ bury, as his predecessors had done before ; and excused himself by his oath which he before had made. To this the pope answered again, that he, by his authority apostolical, both might, and would also, easily dispense with him for his promise or oath. Then the king said that he would talk with his council thereof, and so send him an answer of his mind ; which answer was this. That for the love and request of the pope, he was content that Thurstin should re-enter his realm, and quietly enjoy his prelateship, upon tliis condition, that he would (as
(1) Ex Roger. Hoved. (2) Guliel. Malmesb. de Pont. Ub. i. .
XT 9.
the em- peror ex- coramu- icated.
ISO TIII-USTIN HKINSTATKI) IX TUE SEE OF YORK.
iienrgi. liis prcilcccssors dill) profess his sul)jecti(jn to the church of Canter-
'~j^^l)~ bury. Otherwise, saiil lie, so long as he was king, he should never
1120. sit archbishop of tlie church of York. And thus ended that meeting
between the king of England and the pope for that time.
AD.1120. The year following, which was a.d. 1120, the aforesaid pope,
Calixtus, diroctcth his letters for Thurstin to the king, and to
Rodulph, archbishop of Canterbury; in which epistles, by his full
power apostolical, he doth interdict both the church of Canterbury
and the church of York, with all the parish churches within the same
cities, from all divine service, from the burial also of the dead, except
only the baptizing of children, and the absolution of those who lie
dying; unless, within a month after the receipt of the same, Thurstin,
without any exaction of subjection made, were received and admitted
The king to the scc of York, and that the king likewise should doubtless be
ueliedto excomnumicated, except he would consent unto the same. AVhere-
receive ni)on Tiiurstiu, for fear of the pope''s curse, was immediately sent for
forftarof and reconciled to the king, and was placed quietly in his archiepis-
rul'e':'"'' coi)al see of York.
A.D.1122. It followed not long after, within two years, that Rodulph, arch-
Friar?^*^^ bisliop of Canterbury, departed ; in Avhose see succeeded after him
'."^stc^me Gulielmus de Turbine. About this time, in the seven and twentieth
land. " year of the king's reign, the Grey Friars, by the procuring of the king,
^ '■""■■ came first into England, and had their house first at Canterbury.
About the same season, or a little before, the king called a council at
London, where the spiritualty of England, not knowing to what
purpose it was required, condescended to the king to have the
punishment of married priests : by reason of which grant, Avhereof the
Pfjes's spiritualty afterwards much repented, the priests, paying a certain
their fine to the king, were suffered to retain their wives still, whereby
The'^'*' the king gathered no small sum of money.^ At this time began the
abbey of flj-gt foundation of the monastery called Gisburn, in Cleveland.
(iisburn .' ' .
buiided. It was abovc touched, how Matilda, or Maud, daughter to Kmg
Henry, was mamed to Henry V. the emperor; who, after the
decease of the said emperor, her husband, returned about this time
with the imperial cro^vn to her father in Normandy, bringing with
James- ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ '^^ ^^* J^"^^^ ; fov joy whcrcof the king builded
hand. the abbey of Reading, where the said hand was reposed. This
ab^i^y"^ Matilda was received by the said council to be next heir to the
founded. 1-ing^ }^(.j. father, in possession of the English crown, for lack of
Henry II. -i if>i .-».t ^ ±
born of i^suc male; and soon after she was sent over to JNormandy, to tile'em-' '"^I'TV Gcoffrcy Plantagenet, earl of Anjou, of whom came Henry II., ad"ii30 ^''^^^' ^^^^^ Stephen, was king of England. About this time also was liie founded the ])ri()rv of Norton, in the province of Chester, by one C.r' ^^'illiam Filz-Nigclle.
Threc'tcr ^" ^^^^ storics of Polyclu-onicon, Jornalensis, and Polydorc, is ribie declared, how King Henry was troubled greatly with three sundry t'l-e king.' visions appearing unto him by night. The first was of a great mul- titude of husbandmen of the country, who appeared to fly upon him with their mattocks and iu'^trumcnts, requiring of him his debt Avhich he did owe unto thein. Jn the second, he saw a great number of soldiers and harnessed men coming fiercely upon him. In the third,
(1) F..\ Rifcr. Ilovod. 7; ct Mahnesb, GisluimenB. Hunting, lib. vii.
DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION IN LONDON. ISl
lie saw a company of prelates and churchmen, threatening him witli Henry i. their bishops' staves, and fiercely approaching upon him ; whereupon ^ ^ being dismayed, in all haste he ran and took his sword to defend 112.-!." himself, finding there none to strike. Who afterward asking counsel concerning these visions, was monished by one of his physicians named Grimbald, by repentance, alms, and amendment of life, to make some amends to God and to his country, whom he offended. Which three vows thus being made, the next year after he went to Three England ; where he, being upon the seas in a great tempest with his ^i^^^'^.^ daughter Matilda, remembered there his three vows ; and so coming a.d.iisi. to the land, for performance of the same, first released unto the commons the Dane-gilt which his father and brother before had oane-Mit renewed. Secondly, he went to St. Edmundsbury, where he showed J''^''^^^'''^''- great benefits to the churchmen. Thirdly, he procured justice to be administered more rightly throughout his realm, &c. Also he ordained and erected a new bishopric at Carlisle.
In the three and thirtieth year of this king's reign (as witnesseth The city a certain author) a great part of the city of London, with the church cJiurl,'!,'^';,^ of St. Paul, was burned with fire in Whitsun week. London
After Calixtus (whose story and time is before discoursed) sue- nonorius ceeded Pope Honorius II. ; notwithstanding that the cardinals had i'- elected another, yet he, by the means of certain citizens, obtained the papacv, a.d. 1124. About the second year of his induction, as is to be read in Mat. Paris, there was a certain legate of his, called John de Crema, sent down to England from the pope for the redress I cannot well tell whereof; but, indeed, the chief purpose of his coming, as of all others after him in those days, was to fill their pouches with English money, as may further appear by their pro- ceedings. This legate coming then with the pope's letters directed both into England and Scotland, after he had well refreshed himself in bishops' houses, and amongst the abbots, at length resorted to London, where he assembled the whole clergy together, inquiring of ARomish priests' concubines, otherwise called their Avives, and made thereupon cmlcern- a statute in the said synod of London, after this tenor •} " To priests, '"? , deacons, subdeacons, and canons, we do utterly inhibit, by authority wivejami apostolical, all manner of society and conversation with all kinds of b°nes. women, except only their mother, sister, or aunt, or such whereof can rise no suspicion. And whosoever shall be found to violate this decree, being convict thereof, shall sustain thereby the loss of all that he hath by his order. Moreover, amongst kindred or such as be Maniaj^e
forbiildeii
joined in affinity, we forbid matrimony unto the seventh generation." [° ^,"^1' But see how God worketh against such ungodly proceedings. The ^";^|^^'' next night after, it happened the same cardinal, ruffling and revelling with his concubines, to be apprehended in the same vice whereof he had so straitly given out precepts the day before, to the no little slander and shame, as Matthew Paris doth write, of the whole clergy.
Unto A.D. ] 125, lived Henry V. the emperor, after he had reigned twentv years, dying without issue, as is before mentioned. Next after Henry, the imperial crown came unto Lothaire, duke of Saxony.
(1) " Presbyteris, diaconibus, subdiaconibus, ct canonicis, uxorum, concubinarnm, et omninm oranino foeminarum contubernia authoritate apostolica iiihibenius, prater matrem, aut sororcm, vel amitam, aut cjusmodi mulieres quje oninino careant suspicione. Et qui derreti hujus violator extiteiit (coiifessus vel convictus^ ruinain ordinis patiatur. Inter ronsanguineos seu afFinitate propinquos, usque ad septimam geiicratioiiem, tnatrimonia contrahi proliibemus." iSimeon Dunclni., hoc anno: Wilkins, Cone. Gen. torn i. p. •)()!>. — Eu ]
182
TilE UISTOKV OF ARXULril.
Jlenty I.
A.D. 1128.
The hin- tory of Arniilph, n worlhy preacher.
Amulph, a martyr.
A book called Tri- partitum, written ■400 years ago.
Certain historians,' as Hugo, Platina, Sabellicus, &c., make men- tion of one Amulph, in tlic time of this Pope Honorius II. Some say he was archbishop of Lyons. Trithemius saith he was a priest, whose history, as it is set forth in Trithemius, I will briefly in English express. About this time, saith he, in the days of Honorius II., one Arnulph, priest, a man zealous and of great devotion, and a worthy preacher, came to Rome, wliich Arnulph, in his preaching, rebuked the di,ssolute and lascivious looseness, incontinency, avarice, and im- moderate pride of the clergy, provoking all to follow Christ and his apostles in their poverty rather, and in pureness of life. By reason whereof this man was well accepted, and highly liked of the nobility of Rome for a true disciple of Christ ; but of the cardinals and the clergy he was no less hated than favoured of the other, insomuch that privily, in the night season, they took him and destroyed him. This his martyrdom, saith he, was revealed to him before from God by an angel, he being in the desert, when he was sent forth to preach at Rome ; whereupon he said to them publicly with these words : " I know," saith he, " ye seek my life, and know you will shortly make me away privily : but why ? Because I preach to you the truth, and blame your pride, stoutness, avarice, incontinency, with your unmea- surablc greediness in getting and heaping up riches, therefore be you displeased with me. I take here heaven and earth to witness, that I have preached to you that I was commanded of the Lord. But you contemn me and your Creator, who by his only-begotten Son hath redeemed you. And no marvel if you seek my death, being a sinful person, preaching unto you the truth, when as if St. Peter were here this day and rebuked your vices, which do so multiply above all mea- sure, you would not spare him neither.*" And having expressed this with a loud voice, he said moreover : " For my part I am not afraid to suffer death for the truth's sake ; but this I say to you, that God will look upon your impurities, and will be revenged ; for you, being full of all impurity, play the blind guides to the people committed to you, leading them the way to hell ; but God is a God of vengeance." Thus the hatred of the clergy being incensed against him for preach- ing truth, they conspired against him, and so laying privy Avait for him, took him and drowned him.^ Sabellicus and Platina say they hanged him.
In the second tome of the General Councils, printed at Cologne, is mentioned a certain book called " Opusculum Tripartitum," written, as the collector of the councils supposeth, above four hundred years ago, cither of this Amulph, or just about the same time. In this book, the writer complaineth of many enormities and abuses in the church. First, of the number of holy days, declaring what occasions of vice grew thereby, according unto the common saying of naughty women, who say, they vantage more in one holy day than in fifty other days besides.
Item, he complaineth of the curious singing in cathedral churches, whereby many be occasioned to bestow much good time, yea, many years, about the same, which otherwise they might give to the learning of better sciences.
(1) This and the next p.ipc are translated from Ulyricus, cols. 1432, 1448. See Appendix.— Ed.
(2) Kx Trithcmio. [Chron. Hirsaiip. Ed. Francof. ICOl, p. 121, an. 1128 : the text has been col« laled, and some slight corrections introduced. — Ed.]
THE REALM OF FRANCE INTERDICTED. 183
Likewise he complaineth of the rabble and the multitude of Uenry i. begging friars, and religious men and professed Avomcn, showing ~~\^ what great occasion of idle and uncomely life conieth thereof. Ii;j0.
Also of the inconsiderate promotion of evil prelates, and of their ' great negligence in correcting and reforming the evil demeanour of the people.
Item, of the great wantonness and lasciviousncss in their servants and families, concerning their excessive wearing of apparel.
Item, he complaineth also of the outrageous and excessive gains that prelates and others under them take for their seal, especially of officials, scribes, and such like ; who give out the seal they care not hoM", nor wherefore, so they may gain money.
He complaineth in like manner, that prelates be so slack and ncfrligent in looking' to the residents in their benefices.
Further, he lamcnteth the rash giving of benefices to parsons, vicars, and curates, not for any godliness or learning in them, but for favour or friendship, or intercession, or else for hope of some gain, whereof springeth this great ignorance in the church.
After this, he noteth in prelates, how they Avaste and expend the goods of the church in superfluities ; or upon their kinsfolks, or other worse ways, Avhich should rather be spent on the poor.
Next, in the tenth chapter he complaineth, that through the negligence of men of the church, especially of the church of Rome, the books and monuments of the old councils, and also of the new, are not to be found, which should be reserved and kept in all cathedral churches.
Item, that many prelates be so cold in doing their duties. Also he reproacheth the unchaste and voluptuous demeanour of ecclesiastical persons by the example of storks, whose nature is, saith he, that if any of their company, leaving his own mate, joineth with any other, all the rest fly upon him, whether it be he or she, beat him, and pluck his feathers off: " What then," saith he, " ought good prelates to do to such a person of their company, whose filthiness and corrupt life both defile so many, and stinketh in the whole church.'^"
Again, forasmuch as we read in the first book of Esdras (chap, ix.), Amend- that he, purging Israel of strange women, began first with the priests; ni^first so now likewise in the purging and correcting of all sorts of men, '"i,''^^fh" first the purgation ought to begin Avith these, according as it is priests. written by the prophet Ezekiel, " Begin first with my sanctuary."
Moreover, seeing that in the time of Philip, king of France, the The whole realm was interdicted, for that the king had a woman for his pranie"'^ wife, who could not be his wife bv law ; and again, seeing in these jJ]'^'':
' •" ^ . ^ . . dieted.
our days the king of Portugal hath been sequestered from his dominion King of by the authority of the church, being thought not sufficient to govern ; deposed. — what then ought to be said to the prelate who abuseth other men''s wives, and virgins and nuns, who also is found unhable and insufficient to take upon him the charge of souls ?
About A.D. 1128, the order of the knights of the Rhodes, called Johannites, also the order of Templars, rose up. of the
After Honorius, next in the same usurpation succeeded Pope !|^,j"T/,n. Innocent II., a.d. 1130. But as it was with his predecessors before ri"s.
1st DKATH OF KING UKURY, SUllKAMED BEAUCLEUK.
funryi. ],i,„^ tliixt at cvcry mutation of new popes, came new perturbations, ^ J) and commonly never a pope was elected but some other was set \u-i. up a!,Minst liim, sometimes two, sometimes three popes tof,'ether, so
likewise it happened with this Innocent ; for after he was chosen, the
Hurl- Komans elected another pope, named Anacletus. Betwixt these bu"ri/be- two popes there w;us much ado, and great conflicts, through the pl^^j" i)artaking of Roger, duke of Sicily, taking Anacletus's part against Innocent until Lothaire the emperor came ; who, rescuing Inno- cent, drove Roger out of Italy. Our stories record, that King Henrv was one of the great helps in setting up and maintaining this Po])e Innocent against Anacletus.'
Amongst many other things, this pope decreed that whosoever did strike a priest or clerk, being shaven, he should be excommunicated, and not be absolved but only by the pope himself, neithof About the time of doing these things, a.d. 113.5, King Henry, Heiryi- being in Normandy, as some say, by taking there a fall from his A.D.1I35. ],Qj.gp^ Q^.^ ag others say, by taking a surfeit in eating lampreys, fell sick and died, after lie had reigned over the realm of England five and thirty years and odd months, leaving for his heirs Matilda, the empress, his daughter, with her young son Henry to succeed him, to whom all the prelates and nobility of the realm were sworn. But, contrary to their oath made to Matilda, in the presence of her Itither before, William, the archbishop of Canterbury, and the nobles of the realm, crowned Stephen, earl of Boulogne, and sister's son to King Henry, upon St. Stephen's day, in Christmas week ; which archbishop the next year after died, being, as it was thought, justly punished for his perjury. And many other lords, who did accordingly, went not quit without punishment. In the like justice of punishment is numbered also Roger, bishop of Salisbury ; who, contrary unto his oath, being a great doer in the coronation of Stephen, was appre- hended of the same king, and miserably, but justly, extermined.
A certain written English story ^ I have, which addeth more, and
saith, that King Stephen, having many foes in divers quarters keeping
their holds and castles against him, went to Oxford, and took the
The bishop of Salisbury, and put a rope about his neck, and so led him
ofsarum to the castlc of Vies, that was his, and commanded them to render
coin^'"" "P the castle, or he would slay and hang their bishop. Which castle
takei being given up, the king took the spoil thereof The like also he
■ did unto the bishop of Lincoln, named Alexander ; whom in like
manner he led in a rope to a castlc of that bishop's, that was upon
Trent, and bade them deliver up the castle, or else he would liang
their lord before tlieir gate. Long it was before the castle was given
up ; yet at length the king obtaining it, there entered and took all
the treasure of the bishop, &c. Roger Hoveden' and Fabian
alleging a certain old author, whom I cannot find, refer a great clause
of this perjury unto one Hugh Bigot, sometime steward with King
Henry ; who, immetliately after tlie death of the said Henry, came
into England, and before the said archbishop, and other lords of the
land, took wilf\illy an oath, and swore, that he was present a little
before the kings death, when King Henry admitted for his heir, to
(1) Gishurn. (2) Ex Chroti. Anpli. incerti autoris.
(.3) Roger Hoved. in Vit. Steph. Ex Fab. in Vit. Steph.
CONTENTIONS FOR THE CROWN. 185
be \dr\g after him, Stephen his nepliew, forasmuch as Matilda his ^''-p'""- daughter had discontented him. Whereunto the archbishop, with a. D. the other lords, gave too hasty credence. But this Hugh, saith 1135. he, scaped not unpunished, for he died miserably in a short time after.' Albeit all this may be supposed rather to be wrought not without the practice of Henry, bishop of Winchester, and other prelates by his setting on, which Henry was brother to King Stephen.
STEPHEN.2
Thus, when King Stephen, contrary unto his oath made before a. i). to Matilda, the empress, had taken upon him the crown, as is above 1135. said, he swore before the lords at Oxford, that he would not hold the benefices that were voided, and that he would remit the Dane- gilt, with many other things, which afterwards he little performed. Moreover, because he dreaded the coming of the empress, he gave license to his lords, every one to build upon his own ground strong BuUdins castles or fortresses, as they liked. All the time of his reign he was "n Eng " vexed with wars, but especially with David, king of the Scots, with '^"'^• Avhom he was at length accorded : but yet the Scottish king did him no homage, because he was sworn to Matilda, the empress. Notwith- standing this, Henry, the eldest son to King David, did homage tc King Stephen. But he, after repenting thereof, entered into North- The umberland with a great host, and burnt and slew the people in most onhe^ cruel wise, neither sparing man, woman, nor child. Such as were scots to- with child they ripped up ; the children they tossed upon their Enl'iilh-'' spears' points ; and laying the priests upon the altars, they mangled ""'' and cut them all to pieces, after a most terrible manner. But by the manhood of the English lords and soldiers, and through the means of Thurstin, archbishop of York, they were met withal, and a great number of them slain, David their king being constrained to give up Henry, his son, as hostage for surety of peace. In the mean tune. King Stephen was occupied in the south countries, besieging divers castles of divers bishops and other lords, and took them by force, and fortified them with his knights and servants, with intent to withstand the empress, whose coming he ever feared.
About the sixth year of his reign, Matilda, the empress, came into A.D.n4n. England out of Normandy, and by the aid of Robert, earl of e^^r'^ei*',^ Gloucester, and Ranulph, of Chester, made strong war upon King ^?"'?.'"{'' Stephen. In the end the king's party was chased, and himself taken a^Jldntt prisoner, and sent to Bristol, there "to be kept in sure hold. The sleSe"' same day when King Stephen should join his battle, it is said in a ^^^^^^ ^Ti- certain old chronicle before mentioned, that he being at the mass (which then the bishop of Lincoln said before the king), as he went to offer up his taper, it brake in two ; and when the mass was done, (at what time the king should have been houseled) the rope whereby the pix^ did hang did break, and the pix fell down upon the altar.
(1) Ex Fabian.
(2) Edition 1563, p. 31. Ed. 1583, p. L'nn. Ed. l.inp, p. 182. Ed. I6S4, vol. i. p. 22f.. -Ed.
(.i) The pix is a small box cnntaininp the consecrated wafer, which the papists c:Ul the host, to which they may be seen paying their adorations — Ed.
186 DTKl-: IIKNIIY INVADES KN'GLAKD.
sin>'> y^ I) made great labour to the empress and her council, to have the king 1143. delivered and put into some house of religion, but could not obtain it. Also the Londoners made great suit to the said empress, to have and to use ag:iin St. Edward's laws, and not the laws of her father, which were more strict and strange unto them than the others. When they could not obtain this of her and her council, the citizens of London, being therewith discontented, would have taken the empress; but she having knowledge thereof, fled privily from London to Ox- Ibrd. But the Kentish-men and Londoners, taking the king''s part, joined battle against the empress ; when the aforesaid Robert, earl of stephpn, Gloucester, and base brother to the empress, was taken, and so, by heft, 'carl cxcliangc, botli the king and earl Robert were delivered out of prison. of^Giou- 'f hen Stephen, without delay gathering to him a strong army, straitly livcred by pursucd tlic aforcsaid Matilda, or Maud, with her friends, besieging exc laiige ^j^^j^^ jj^ ^j^^ castlc of Oxford, iu the siege whereof fell a great snow and frost, so hard, that a man well laden might pass over the water ; upon which occasion, the empress bethinking herself, appointed with her friends and retinue, clothed in white sheets, and issuing out by a postern gate, went upon the ice over Thames, and so escaped to vVallingford.' After this, the king (the castle being gotten), when he found not the empress, was much displeased, and molested the country round about divers ways. In conclusion, he pursued the empress and her company so hard, that he caused them to fly the realm, which was in the sixth year of his reign. A.D.1143. The second year after this, which was the eighth year of his reign, there was a parliament held in London, to which all the bishops of the realm resorted, and there denounced the king accursed, and all those with him, who did any hurt to the church, or to any minister thereof. Whereupon the king began somewhat to amend his conditions for a certain space, but afterward, as my story saith, was as ill as he was before; but what the causes were, my author maketh no mention. The de- To rctum again to the story : the empress, compelled, as is said, to Gc'^ffcry ^J ^^^^ realm, returned again into Normandy, to Geoffery Plantagenet I'lanta- her husbaud, who, after he had valiantly won and defended the duchy of Normandy, against the puissance of King Stephen a long time, ended his lil'e, leaving Henry, his son, to succeed him in that dukedom. In the mean while, Robert, earl of Gloucester, and the earl of Chester, who were strong of people, had divers conflicts with the king, inso- much that at a battle at Wilton, between them, the king was well nigh taken, but yet escaped with much difficulty. Henry, It was uot loug bcforc Eustacc, son to King Stephen, who had Korman- married the French king's sister, made war on Duke Henry of Nor- En'g^ianT "i'^"'!}', but prevailed not. Soon after, the said Henry, duke of Nor- mandy, in the quarrel of his mother Matilda, with a gi-eat puissance entered England, and at the first won the castle of Malmesbury, then the Tower of London, and afterward the town of Nottingham, with other holds and castles, as of Wallingford, and other places. Thus, between him and the king were fought many battles, to the great annoyance of the realm. During that time, ]liustacc, the king's son, departed ; upon which occasion the king caused Theobald, arch-
(1) Ex incertl authoris Chronico.
DEATH OF KTNCi STEl'UKN. 187
bisliop of Canterbury, who succeeded next after William, above men- sirphcn. tioned, to make overtures to the duke for peace, which was concluded ^^ n between them upon this condition, — that Stephen, during his lifetime, ] jV^". should hold the kingdom, and Henry, in the mean time, be proclaimed heir apparent, in the chief cities throughout the realm. These things Peace done, Duke Henry taketh his journey into Normandy, King Stephen k^hk "" and his son William bringing him on his way, where William, the g^^/}',';"^^ king"'s son, taking up his horse before his father, had a fall, and brake Henry, his leg, and so was had to Canterbury. The same year, about Death of October, King Stephen, as some say for sorrow, ended his life, after ^j'ephen. he had reigned nineteen years perjuredly.
As Theobald succeeded William, archbishop of Canterbury, so in York, after Thurstin, succeeded William, who was called St. William of York, and was poisoned in his chalice by liis chaplains.
In the time of this king, in the sixteenth year of his reign, Theo- bald, archbishop of Canterbury, and legate to the pope, did hold a council in London. In this conned first began new-found appella- tions from councils to the pope, found out by Henry, bishop of Winchester ; for, as the words of mine author do record, " In Anglia namque appellationes in usu non erant, donee eas Henricus Winton- iensis episcopus, dum legatus esset, malo suo crudeliter intrusit. In eodem namque concilio ad Romani pontificis audientiam ter appella- tum est," &c. That is, " for appellations before were not in use in England, till Henry, bishop of Winchester, being then the pope's legate, brought them cruelly in, to his own hurt. For in that council appeal was thrice made to the bishop of Rome.''"' a. d. 1151,
In the time of King Stephen died Gratian, a monk of Bologna, cratian. who compiled a book of papal decrees, called * Decretum ; ' also his o^X'" brother, Peter Lombard, bishop of Paris, who is called ' the Master f^^'^^^^ of Sentences,' compiled his four books of the ' Sentences.' These peter" two brethren were the greatest doers in finding out and establishing mas"e?of' this blind opinion of the sacrament, that only the similitude of bread ^^l^^^-' and wine remained, but not the substance of them ; and this they call the spiritual understanding of the mystery, and therefore no marvel if the sun in those days were seen black and dim.
Some also afliirm, that Petrus Comestor, writer of the Scholastical History, was the third brother to these above-named.
At the same time, and in the reign of the said King Stephen, was also Hugo, surnamed " De Sancto Victore ;" about the which time, as Polychronicon reciteth, lived and died Bernard of Clairvaux.
The author of the history called ' Jornalensis,' maketh also mention of Hildegard, the nun and prophetess, in Almain, as having lived in the same age ; concerning whose prophecy against the friars, hereafter (by the grace of Christ) more shall be said, when we come to recite the order and number of friars and religious men crept into the church of Christ.
We read., moreover, of one named Johannes de Temporibus, who, by the affirmance of most of our old histories, lived three hundred and sixty-one years, servant once to Charlemagne, and in the reign of Stephen king of England died.^
In the days also of this king, and by him, was buildcd the abbey
(I) Polychron. lib, vii. Continuator Henr. Hunt. Jornalcnsis in Vita Steph. Nichol. Trivet, &c
1S8
civil- COM.MOTIONS AT ROMK.
A.D. 1154.
The Jews crucilicd n child at Norwich. The order of the Cilher- lines.
The Lord's Prnyer and the Creed in English.
Cursing with
Stephen, ^f Fevcrslmm, where liis son and lie were burietl. He buildcd the monastery of Furness, and tliat of Fountains ; also the castle of Wallinijtord, with a number of other castles more.
During the time of the said King Stephen, a.d. 1144-, the mise- rable .lews crucified a child in the city of Norwich.'
Much about the same time came up the order of the Gilbertines, by one Gilbert, son to Jacolinc de Sempringham, a knightof Lincolnshire.
Mention hath been made beibre of certain FiUglish councils liolden in the time of this king, where, in one of them, imder Theobald the archbishop of Canterbury, it was decreed that bishops should live more discreetly ; should teach their flock more diligently ; that reading of Scriptures should be more usual in abbeys ; that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters; and that they should learn and teach the Lord's Prayer and Creed in English.^
Matthew Paris^ writcth, how Stephen, king of England, in these days reserved to himself the right and authority of bestowing spiritual livings, and investing prelates. At that time, also, Lothaire, the emperor, began to do the like, in recovering again the right and pri- Ailege taken away from Henry, his predecessor, had not Bernard given him contrary counsel, a.d. 1133.
Here came into the church the manner of cursing with book, bell, book.heii, and candle, devised in the council of London, holden by William, and can. ];,ig]^op of Winchester, under Pope Celestine, who succeeded after Innocent, a.d. 1144,
Also to Lothaire, succeeded in the imperial cro^^■n, Conrad HL,"* the nephew of Henry V. beforementioncd, who alone, of many cm])erors, is not found to receive the crown at the pope's hand, a.d, 1138.
In the days of this emperor, wdio reigned fifteen years, were divers popes, as Celestine IL, Lucius H., Eugene UL, at which time the Komans Avcnt about to recover their former old nwnner of choosing their consuls and senators. But the popes, then being in their rnW, in no case would abide it ; whereupon arose many commotions, with Pope Lu- mnch civil war amongst them, insomuch that Pope Lucius, sending for aid to the emperor, who otherwise hindered at that time coidd not come, armed his soldiers, thinking to invade them, or else to destroy them in their senate-house. But this coming to their knowledge beforehand, the people were aJl in array, and much ado was among them ; Pope Lucius being also among them in the fight, and well pelted with stones and blows, lived not long after. Ijikewise Pope Eugene after him, pursuing the Romans for the same matter, first did curse them Avith excommunication ; and afterwiixds, when he saw that would not serve, he came with his host, and so compelled temporal them at length to seek peace, and to take his conditions, which were
warring against the sena tors.
Spiritual excom- munica- tion abused in
(1) Nichol. Trivet, et alii. (2) Malmesb. P) ^lalth. Paris, lib. Chron. iv.
(4) In the rei}!n of Conrad, in consequence of some .-ulvantages obtained by the Saracens in the East, Bernard of Clairvaux, a learned and eloquent man, whose lecture to the pope may be seen in Uupin's Kccles. Hist. cent, xii , bcRan to rouse the minds of the western nations, and directed their thoughts to the second crusade, a.d. 1M6. Conrad III., the cmiieror of Germany, set forward with a numerous army to the East; but in November, in the same year, he was unexpectedly attacked by the sultan of Iconium, and bis .-irmy destroyed. We are told that bis force consisted of 7n,t)00 coats of mail, besides infantry and light-horse. Tl'.e emperor escaped, and joined the 1 lench king, Louis VJl., at Ephesus. Nor was the latter, who appeared at the bead of a second arma- ment, more fortunate ; in January, the following year, he too, through an error in the movements of his troops, was surprised and defeated, in an impetuous attack of the Saracens ; the army was destroyed, and the king and the emperor retired to Jerusalem. Eugene III. was pope at th.it time. — Ed.
IIEKRY II. ASCENDS THE THRONE. 189
these: — That they shoukl aboHsh their consuls, and take such •^'•'"•y//. senators as lie, by his papal authoiity, shoukl assign them. A.dT
Then followed Anastasius IV., and after him Adrian IV., an 1154. Englishman, by name called Breakspear, belonging once to St. Alban's popc This Adrian kept great stir, in like manner, with the citizens of Rome, ^Jjg,^",^'!" for abolishing their consuls and senate, cursing, excommunicating, man. and warring against them with all the poAver he could make, till in time he removed the consuls out of their office, and brought them all under his subjection. The like business and rage he also stirred up against Apulia, and especially against the empire, blustering and tlumdering against Frederic, the emperor, as (the Lord granting) you shall hear anon, after we have prosecuted such matter as necessarily appertaineth first to the continuation of our English story.
HENRY THE SECOND."
Henry H., the son of Geoffery Plantagenet, and of ^Matilda, tlie A. D, empress, and daughter of King Henry I., began his reign after King 1154. Stephen, and continued five and thirty years. The first year of his reign he subdued Ireland ; and not long after, Thomas Becket was Thomas made by him lord chancellor of England. This king cast down dl^ncd'- divers castles erected in the time of King Stephen. He went into '°J^ °^^^^ the north parts, where he subdued William, king of Scotland, who at that time held a great part of Northumberland, as far as Newcastle- upon-Tyne, and joined Scotland to his own kingdom, from the south ocean to the north isles of Orcades. Also he put under his dominion the kingdom of Wales, and there felled many great woods, and made the ways plain, so that by his great manhood and policy the seigniory of England was much augmented with the addition of Scotland, Ire- land, the Orcades isles, Britanny, Poitou, and Guienne. Also he had in his rule Normandy, Gascony, Anjou, and Chinon ; also Auvergne and the city of Tholouse he won, and Avere to him subject. Over and besides, by the title of his wife Eleanor, daughter to the earl of Poic- tou, he obtained the mount Pyreneein Spain ; so that we read of none of his progenitors who had so many countries under his dominion.
In England were seen in the firmament two suns, or (as it is in Chro- nica Chronicorum) in Italy appeared three suns by the space of three hours, in the west; the year following, a. d. 1158, appeared three moons, Avhereof the middle moon had a red cross athwart the face, whereby was betokened, in the judgment of some, the great schism Avhich afterwards happened among the cardinals, for the election of the bishop of Rome ; or else rather the business betAveen Frederic, the cerhar- emperor, and the popes, Avhcreof partly noAV incidently occasion givetli D^fidnus, us to discourse after that I have first Avritten of Gerhardus and Dul- pi-^ad'er; cinus of Novara ; against Avhom it Avas alleged clnetiy, that they did Ami-" earnestly labour and preach against the church of Rome, defending '^''"^'' and maintaining that prayer was not more holy in one place than in another ; that the pope Avas Antichrist ; that the clergy and prelates of Rome Avere reject, and the very Avhore of Babylon prefigured in the Apocalypse. Perad venture these had received some light of knoAvledge of the Waldenses, Avho, at length, with a great number of
1,1) Kiiition 1563, p. 35. Ed. 15S3. p. 202. Ed. 15'iG, p. IS3. Ed. ICSl, vol. i. p. 228.— Ed.
190 WARS STIRUKD IP HV THE POPE.
""^mit their followers, were oppressed and slain by the pope.* And although A.D. some inconvenient points of doctrine and dishonesty in their assem- 1155. blics be asjainst them alleged by some, yet these times of ours do teach us sufficiently what credit is to be given to such popish slanders, forged rather through hatred of true religion, than upon any judgment of truth. Illyricus, in his book " De testibus,"" referreth the time of these two to a.d. 1280 ; but, as I find in the story of Robert Gis- burne, these two, about a. d. 1158, brought thirty with them into England, who by the king and the prelates were all burnt in the foreliead, and so driven out of the realm, and afterwards, as Illyricus writeth, were slain by the pope. Frederic And HOW, according to my promise premised, the time requireth ro'saT to proceed to the history of Frederic I., called Barbarossa, successor emperor, to Conrad in the empire, who marched up to Italy, to subdue there certain rebels. The pope, hearing that, came with his clergy to meet him by the way, in a town called Sutrium, thinking by him to find The pope ^^^ agaiust liis enemies. The emperor, seeing the bishop, lighteth that'tr*'' from his horse to receive him, holding the stirrup to the prelate on emperor the left sidc, when he should have held it on the right, whereat the hold his pope showed himself somewhat aggrieved. The emperor, smiling, "ikrup. excused himself, by saying, that he was never accustomed to hold stirrups ; and seeing it was done only of good will, and of no design, it was the less matter what side of the horse he held. The next day, to make amends to the bishop, the emperor sending for him, received him, holding the right stirrup to the prelate, and so all the matter Avas made whole, and he the pope's own Avhite son again. The After this, as they were come in and sat together, Adrian, the pope,
practke'*^ beginncth to declare to him how his ancestors before him, such as ill setting sought to the scc of Rome for the crown, were wont always to leave together behind them some special token or monument of their benevolence ears!'" ^01" tliB obtaining thereof, as Charlemagne, in subduing the Lom- bards ; Otho, the Berengarians ; Lothaire, the Normans, &c. ; where- fore he required some benefit to proceed likewise from him to the church of Rome, in restoring again tlie country of Apulia to the church of Rome. Which thing if he would do, he, for his part, again would do that which appertained unto him to do ; meaning in giving him the crown, for at that time the popes had brought the emperors to fetch their crown at their hands, a. d. 1155.
Frederic, with his princes, perceiving that unless he would of his own proper costs and charges get back Apulia out of Duke William's liands, he could not speed of the crown, was fain to promise all that the pope required, and so the next day after he was crowned. This done, the emperor returneth into Germany, to refresh his army and his other furnitures, for the subduing of Apulia. In the mean while Adrian, not thinking to be idle, first giveth forth censures of excom- munication against William, duke of Apulia ; and, not content with WarBtir- tliis, hc scudcth also to Emmanuel, emperor of Constantinople, in- thepopeT ecnsing him to war against the aforesaid William. The duke per- more ct-'iving tlus, sendoth to the pope for peace, promising to restore to gainful him whatsoever he would. But the pope, through the malignant i>e»ce. counsel of his cardinals, would grant no peace, thinking to get more
(1) Ex Hiit. Gisburnensis.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEX THK POPE AND THE EMPEROK. 191
by war. The duke seeing notliing but war, preparctli liimself witli iienryu. all expedition to the same. To be brief, collecting an army out of a. D. all Sicily, he arriveth at Apulia, and there putteth the emperor 1155. Emmanuel to flight. This done, he proceedeth to the city of Bene- vento, where the pope and his cardinals were looking for victory. He The pope planting there his siege, so straitly pressed the city, that the pope treaffor" and his cardinals were glad to entreat for peace, which they refused p"''"- before. The duke granted to their peace upon certain conditions, that is, that neither he should invade such possessions as belonged to Rome, and that the pope should make him king of both Sicilies. So the matter was concluded, and they departed. The bishop, coming to Rome, was no less troubled there about their consuls and senators, insomuch that when his curses and excommunications could not prevail nor serve, he was fain to leave Rome, and removed to Ariminum.
The emperor all this while sitting quietly at home, began to con- sider with himself, how the pope had given Apulia, which of right belonged to the empire, to duke William, and had extorted from the emperors, his predecessors, the investing and endowing of prelates ; how he had pilled and polled all nations by his legates, and also had been the sower of seditions through all his empery : he began therefore to require of all the bishops of Germany homage, and oath of their allegiance ; commanding also the pope's legates, if they came into Germany without his sending for, not to be received ; charging, The^god- moreover, all his subjects that none of them should appeal to Rome. ceiJiTngs Besides this, in his letters he set and prefixed his name before the °l^^''^^^' pope's name ; whereupon the pope being not a little offended, di- ^"l?^'^""" rected his letters to the aforesaid Frederic the emperor, after this thepope, tenor and form as following.
Copies of the Letters between Adrian, the pope, and Frederic,
the emperor.^ Adrian, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to Frederic, Roman emperor, heahh and apostolical benediction. The law of God, as it promiseth to them that honour father and mother long life, so it threateneth the sentence of death to them that curse fatlier and mother. We are taught by the word of truth, that every one that exalteth himself shall be brought low. Wherefore, my well- beloved son in the Lord, we marvel not a little at your wisdom, in that you seem not to show that reverence to blessed St. Peter, and to the holy church of Rome, which you ought to show. For why ? In your letters sent to us, you Tlie em prefer your own name before ours, wherein you incur the note of insolency, peror's yea rather, to speak it, of avrogancy. What ! should I here recite unto you ^ ™^he" the oath of your fidelity, which you sware to blessed St. Peter, and to us, and pope's, how you observe and keep the same ? Seeing you so require homage and alle- giance of them that be gods, and all the sons of the High God, and presume to join their holy hands with yours, working contrary to us ; seeing also you ex- clude, not only out of your churches, but also out of your cities, our cardinals, whom we direct as legates from our side; what shall I say then unto you? Amend therefore, I advise you, amend ; for while you go about to obtain of us your consecration and crown, and to get those things you have not, I fear nmch your honour will lose the things you have. Thus fare ye well.
The Answer of Frederic the Emperor to the Pope.*
Frederic, by the grace of God, Roman emperor, ever Augustus, unto Adrian, bishop of the catholic church, wisheth that he may be found to cleave unto
(1) Adrianus Episcopus, servus seTVorum Dei, Frcderico impcratori salutem, et apostolicam ■bc-nediciionem.&c. [Given by Ulyricua from Naurlenis, (Jen. xxxix. — Ed.]
(2) Collated with, and corrected Irom. the original in Nauclerus.— En.
192 EXCOMMUNICATION OF FREDEHIC.
j/enryii. tiioso tilings wliicli Jesus bcgati to do and to teach. The law of justice givcth
to every person iliat which is his. Accordingly we do not derogate from our
-^' ^' parents, of whom, according as we have received this our dignity of the im- ^^5^' periaJ crown and governance, so in the same kingdom of ours we do render their due and true honour to them again. And forasmuch as the like duty is to be required in all sorts of men, let us see first in the time of Constantine, what patrimony or regality Silvester, then bishop of Rome, had of his own, due to him, that he miglit claim. Did not Constantine, of his liberal benignity, give liberty, and restore jieace unto the church? and whatsoever regality or patrimony the sec of your papacy hath, was it not by the donation of princes given unto them ? When we write to the Roman pontiff, therefore, we prefix our name, and allow him to do the same in writing to us. Revolve and turn over the ancient chronicles ; if either you have not read, or neglected, that we do affirm, there it is to be found. Of those who he gods by adoption, and hold lordships of us, why may we not justly require their homage, and their sworn allegiance ? when as He who is both your Master and ours, who holds nothing of any superior lord, but giveth all good things to all men, paid toll and tribute for himself and Peter unto Caesar ; giving you therein an example to do the like : who saith to you and all men, " Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart." Wherefore either render again your lordships and patrimonies which ye hold of us, or else if ye find them so sweet unto you, then give that which is due to God, unto God ; and that which is due to Caesar, unto Caesar. As for your cardin.ils, we shut them out both of churches and cities, for that we see them not preachers, but prowlers ; not repairers of peace, but rakers for monej'; not ])illars and upholders of the church, but pollers insatiable of the world, and moylers of money and gold. What time we shall see them to be other men, such as the church requireth them to be, makers of peace, shining forth like lights to the people, assisting poor and weak men's causes in the way of equit}', then shall they find us prest and ready to relieve them with stipends, and all things necessary. And whereas you put such questions as these, little conducing to religion, before secular men, you incur thereby no little blemish of your humility, which is keeper of all virtues, and of your mansuetude. Therefore let your fatherhood beware and take heed, lest in moving such matters as seem to us unseemly for you, ye lay a stumbling-block before such as depend on your word, giving ear to your mouth, as it were to an evening shower ; for we cannot but reply to that we hear, seeing how the detestable beast of pride doth creep into the seat of Peter. Fare ye well, so long as ye provide as much as in you lieth for the peace of the church.
Upon this Adrian the pope directcth out a bull against Frederic, excommunicating iiim with public and solemn ceremonies. Moreover conspiring with William, duke of Apulia, he sought all manner of ways to infest the emperor, and to set all men against him, especially the clergy. Amongst many others writing to Hillinus, bishop of Treves, to Arnulph, bishop of Mentz, and to Frederic, bishop of Cologne, he seeketh first to make tlieni of his side. His epistle to them soundeth to this effect.
A sfdi- The empire of Rome was transferred from the Greeks to the Almains, so
"r°o"V"^ that the king of Almains could not be called emperor, before he were crowned
letter of of the bishop apostolical. Before his consecration he is a king, afterwards
the pope emperor. Whence hath he his empire then, but of us? By the election of his
bUhlTps of princes he hath the name of a king ; by our consecration he hath the name of the
Germany, emperor, of .Augustus, or of Caesar; ergo, by us he reigneth as emperor. Search
ancient authorities. Pope Zacharias promoted Charlemagne and made him a
great name, that he was made and called emperor; and after that, the king of
Almains was ever named emperor, and advocate to the see apostolical, so that
Apulia, conquered by him, was subdued to the bishop of Rome; which Apulia, with
the city of Rome, is ours, and not the emperor's. Our seat is at Rome ; the seat
of the emperor is at Aix la Chapelle, in Ardenne, which is a forest in France.
Well The emperor, whatsoever he haili, he hath it of us: as Zacharias did translate
bragired, (},(> eni])ire from the Greeks to the Almains, so we may translate it again from
a pope.' '''
PRESUMPTUOUS CONDUCT OF ADRIAN. 193
will, being therefore set up of God above Gentiles and nations, to destroy and Henry II. pluck up, to build and to plant," &c.' . _^
And yet further to understand the ambitious presumption of this llo7. proud see of Rome, it so chanced, that this emperor Frederic, at scripture" his first coming up to Rome, did behold tlicrc, in the palace of ^^^'^^^^^ Lateran, a certain picture brought forth unto him, how Lothairc IL, the emperor, was crowned of the pope, with the inscription of ccrtam verses in Latin, declaring how the aforesaid emperor, coming to Rome, first did swear to the city, after was made the pope's man, and so of him received the crown. Frederic, offended Avith this picture, desired the pope it might be abolished, that it shouhl be no cause of any dissension hereafter. The pope understanding the intent of the emperor, how loth he was to come under subjection to his see, devised by all crafty ways to bring it to pass ; and first taking his occasion by the archbishop of Lunden's being then detained in custody (I cannot tell by whom) sent divers and sharp letters unto him, and yet not so sharp, as proud and disdainful ; wherein the first salutation by his legates was this : " Our most blessed father, the pope, greeteth you, and the universal company of the cardinals ; he, as your father ; they, as your brethren." ^ Meaning thereby that he See tiie should understand himself to be subject and underling to the pope, pl^sumi"' no less than the cardinals were. Moreover, in his letters, objecting ^^°'^^^^ divers things against him, he reciteth how many and great benefits priest, he had received of the church of Rome, by the which church he had obtained the fulness of his honour and dignity, &c. The emperor, with his princes, perceiving whereunto the pope by his legates did shoot, being a prince of courage, could not abide such intolerable presumption of a proud message, whereupon much contention fell between the legates and the princes. "And of whom then,'''' say the legates, " receiveth Caesar the empire, if he take it not of the pope T"" With that word the German princes were so much offended, that, had not the emperor stayed them with much ado, they would have used violence against the legates. But the emperor, not permitting that, commanded the legates away, straightly charging them to make no turn by the way to any person or persons, but straight to depart home. And he, to certify the whole state of the empire, of the truth of the matter, directeth forth these letters that follow.
The tenor of the Emperors letter sent through all his empire.^
Forasmuch as the Providence of God, whereon dependeth all power both in heaven and earth, hath committed to us, his anointed, this our regiment and empire to be governed, and the peace of his churches by our imperial arms to be protected ; we cannot but lament and complain to you, with great sorrow of heart, seeing such causes of dissension, the root and fountain of evils, and the infection of pestiferous corruption thus to arise from the holy church, imprinted with the seal of peace and love of Christ.
By reason whereof (except God tin-n it away), we fear the whole body of the church is like to be polluted, the unity thereof to be broken, and scliism and division to be betwixt the spiritual and temporal regmient. For we being alale at Besan9on, and there treating busily of matters pertaining as well to tlie
(1) The Latin copy of this letter appears in the edition of 1563, p. 37.— Ed.
(2) "Salutatvos beatissimus pater iioster papa, et universitas cardiiialium, iile ut pater, hi ut fratres." Kx Radevico, in appendice [ad Oihonem] Frisingensem. [See Appendix.— Ed.]
(3) The Latin copy of this letter is also in the edition of 1563, p. 38.- Ed.
VOL. II. O
194 FinMNESS OF THE EMPEROR.
iirurtjil. honour of our empire, as to the wcahli of the churches, there came ambassadors
of the see apostolical, declaring that they brought a legacy to our majesty of
A. D. great iinjjortance, redounding to the no small commodity of our honour and ^^^^- empire.
who then, the first day of their coming, being brought to our presence, and received of us (as the manner is) with honour accordingly, audience was given them to hear what they had to say. They forthwith bursting out of the mammon of iniquity, haughty pride, stoutness, and arrogancy, out of the execrable presumption of their swelling heart, did their message with letters apostolical, whereof the tenor was this: That we should always have before our eyes, how that our sovereign lord, the pope, gave us the imperial crown, and that it dotli not repent him, if so be we have received greater benefits at his hand. And this was the eftect of that so sweet and fatherly legation, which should nourish j)eace both of the chiu-ch and of the empire, to unite them fast together in the band of love.
At the hearing of this so false, untrue, and most vain-glorious presumption of so proud a message, not only the emperor's majesty conceived indignation, but also all the princes there present were moved witli such anger and rage thereat, that if our presence and request had not stayed them, they would not have held their hands from these wicked priests, or else would have proceeded with sentence of death against them.
Furthermore, because a great number of other letters (partly written already,
partly with seals ready signed, for letters to be written according, as they should
think good, to the churches of Germany) were found about them, whereby to
work their conceived intent of iniquity here in our churches, to spoil the altars,
to carry away the jewels of the church, and to flay off the limbs and plates of
Note here go'
a coura- further power to reign, we gave them commandment to depart the same way
geous ^]jgy canie. And now, seeing our reign and empire standeth upon the election
valiant of princes, from God alone, who in the passion of his Son, subdued the world to
emperor : be governed with two swords necessary ; and, again, seeing Peter, the apostle,
pie formal! ^^^ SO informed the world with this doctrine, " Deum timete, regem honorifi-
princes to cate:" that is, " Fear God, honour your king:" therefore, who-so saith that we
follow. bave and possess our imperial kingdom by the benefit of the lord pope, is
contrary both to the oi'dinance of God, and to the doctrine of Peter, and also
shall be reproved for a liar.
Therefore as our endeavour hath been heretofore to help and to deliver the servile captivity of church'^s out of the hand, and from the yoke, of the Egyp- tians, and to maintain the right of their liberties and dignities, we desire you all with your compassion to lament with us this slanderous ignominy inferred to us and our kingdom, trusting that your faithful good-will, which hath been ever trusty to the honour of this empire (never yet blemished from the first beginning of this city, and of religion,) will provide, that it shall have no hurt through the strange novelty and presumptuous pride of such. Which thing rather than it should come to pass, know you this for certain, I had rather incur the danger of death, than suffer such confusion to happen in our days.
This letter of Caesar fretted tlie pope not a little, who wrote again to the bishops of Germany, accusing the emperor, and Avilling them to work against him what they could. They answer again with all obedience to the pope, submitting themselves, and yet excusing the emperor, and blaming him rather, and exhorted him henceforth to temper his letters and legacies with more gentleness and modesty ; which counsel he also followed, perceiving otherwise that he could not prevail.
Much trouble had good Frederic \nth this pope, but much more
with the other that followed. For this pope continued not very
The order long, the space only of four years and odd months. About his time
mils" rose uj) the order of the hermits, by one William, once duke of
A(|uitaine, and afterwards a friar. This Adrian, walking with his
THE POPK CURSES THli EMPEUOR. 195
cardinals abroad, to a ])]ace called Anagnia, or Arignanum, as Vola- Hcryii. teran calleth it, chanced to be clicked with a fly getting into his "Xi)" throat, and so Avas strangled ; who, in the latter time of his papacy, 1159. was wont to say, that there is no more miserable kind of life in the Ti,ejudg- earth than to be pope, and to come to the papacy by blood ; that is, ^'^"' of said he, not to sncceed Peter, but rather Komuliis, who, to reign rian. alone, did slay his brother. pop^es m-
Although this Adrian was bad enough, yet came the next much worse, J.'Jss,,^^"'^,^ one Alexander III., who yet was not elected alone ; for beside him the Ronmius emperor, with nine cardinals, (albeit Sabellicus saith but with three,) ivtei/ did set up another pope, named Victor IV. Between these two popes arose a foul schism and gi-eat discord, and long continued, insomuch that the emperor being required to take up the matter, sent for them both to appear before him, that in hearing them both he might judge their cause the better. Victor came, but Alexander, disdaining that his matter should come in controversy, refused to appear. Hereupon the emperor, with a full consent of his bishops and clergy about him, assigned and ratified the election of Victor to stand, and so brought him into the city, there to be received and placed. Alexander flying Aiexan- into France, accurst them both, sending his letters to all Christendom lH ^',""" against them, as men to be avoided and cast out of all christian emperor. company. Also, to get him friends at Rome, by flattery and money he got on his side the greatest part of the city, both to the favouring of him, and to the setting up of such consuls as were for his purpose. After this, Alexander, coming from France to Sicily, and from thence to Rome, was there received with much favour, through the help of Philip the French king.
The emperor, hearing this rebellion and conspiracy in Rome, a.d.ii64. removed with great power into Italy, where he had destroyed divers great cities. Coming at length to Rome, he required the citizens that the cause betwixt the two popes might be decided, and that he who had the best right might be taken. If they would so do, he would restore again that which he took from them before. Alexander, mistrusting his part, and doubting the wills of the citizens, and having ships ready prepared for him, from William, duke of Apulia, fetched a course about to Venice.
To declare here the difference in histories, between Blondus, Sabellicus, and the Venetian chroniclers, with other writers, concerning the order of this matter, I will overpass. In this most do agree, that the pope being at Venice, and required to be sent by the Venetians to the emperor, they would not send him. Whereupon Frederic the emperor sent thither his son Otho, with men and ships well appointed, charging him not to attempt any thing before his coming. The young man, more hardy than circumspect, joining with the Venetians, "was overcome, and so taken, was brought into the city. Hereby the pope took no small occasion to work his feats.
The father, to help the captivity and misery of his son, was compelled to submit himself to the pope, and to entreat for peace : so the emperor coming to Venice, (at St. Mark's church, where the bishop was, there to take his absolution,) was bid to kneel down at the pope's feet.
The proud pope, setting his foot upon the emperor's neck, said
o2
19G Till- i.iri; and history of thomas hf.cket.
Henry rr thc vcrsc of llic psalin, " Super aspidcm ct basiliscum ambulabis, et
j^^ conculc-abis k-om-in it ilniconcm :" that is, " Thou shalt walk upon
1164. the atldcr and on thc basilisk, ami shall tread down thc lion and the
^y draf,'on.'' To whom thc cnipcror answering again, said, '' Non tibi
scripture ggj Pctfo f that Is, " Not to tlicc, but to Peter.'" The pope again,
TheT.iIp«; " Et mihi ct Pctro ;" " Both to me and to Peter." The emperor,
treading fearing' to ffivc any occasion of further quarrelling, held his peace,
on 'he O ,,11 iiiii rni i- •
emperor's and SO was absolved, and peace made between them. 1 he conditions
""'^ whereof were these. First, that he should receive Alexander for the
true po])e. Secondly, that he should restore again to the church of
Rome all that he had taken away before. And thus the emperor,
obtaining again his son, departed.
Here as 1 note in divers writers a great diversity and variety
touching the order of this matter, of whom some say that the emperor
encamped in Palestine, before he came to Venice, some say, after ; so
I marvel to see in Volateran, so great a fovourcr of the pope, such a
contradiction, who in his two and twentieth book saith, that Otho,
the emperor's son, was taken in this conflict, which was the cause of
the peace between his father and the pope. And in his three and
twentieth book again saith, that thc emperor himself Avas taken
prisoner in the same battle : and so afterwards, peace concluded,
took his journey to Asia and Palestine. This pope, in the time of
his papacy, which continued two and twenty years, kept sundry
Councilor councils both at Tours and at Lateran, where he confirmed the wicked
Lateral!, proceedings of Hildebrand and others his predecessors, as to bind all
clergy ordcrs of the clergy to the vow of chastity ; which were not greatly
the vow" to be reprehended, if they would define chastity aright. " For whoso
ofchas liveth not a chaste life,'' saith he, "is not fit to be a minister." But
herein lieth an eiTor full of much blindness, and also peril, to think
that matrimony immaculate, as St. Paul calleth it, is not chastity, but
only a single life, that they esteem to be a chaste life.
Now forasmuch as our English pope-holy martvT, called Thomas Becket, happened also in the same time of this Pope Alexander, let us somewhat also story of him, so far as the matter shall seem worthy of knowledge, and to stand with truth : to the end that the truth thereof being sifted from all flattery and lies of such popish writers as paint out his story, men may the better judge of him, both what he was, and also of his cause.
€i}t i^iicitocji of Cfjoma.^ 25ertet.
If thc cause make a martyr, as is said, I see not why we should
esteem Thomas Becket to die a martyr, more than any others whom
the prince's sword doth here temporally punish for their temporal
deserts. To die for the church I grant is a glorious matter. But
the church, as it is a spiritual and not a temporal church, so it standeth
r.-.kptno upon causes spiritual, and upon a heavenly foundation, as upon
martyr. f^\([^^ religion, truc doctrine, sincere discipline, obedience to God's
A.D.i 117. commandments; and not upon things pertaining to this world, as
possessions, liberties, exemptions, privileges, dignities, patrimonies,
and superiorities. If these be given to the church, I pray God
AKCHlilSHOP OF C AN'TKUHUK V. 197
churclimen may use them avcII ; but if they be not given, the chureh iiennjii. cannot claim them ; or if they be taken away, that standcth in the ^ jj prince's power. To contend with princes for the same, it is no 1117 matter, in my mind, material to make a martyr, but rather is it a to rebellion against those to whom w^e owe subjection. Therefore, as I ^^6^- suppose Thomas Becket to be far from the cause and title of a martyr, neither can he be excused from the charge of being a plain rebel against his prince ; yet would I have wished again the law rather publicly to have found out his fault, than the swords of men, not bidden nor sent, to have smitten him, having no special command- ment either of the prince, or of the law so to do. For though the indignation of the prince, as the wise prince saith, is death, yet it is not for every private person straightways to revenge the secret indig- nation of his prince, except he be publicly authorized thereunto ; and this had been, as I suppose, the better way, namely, for the laws first to have executed their justice upon him. Certes, it had been the safest way for the king, as it proved after, who had just matter enough, if he had prosecuted his cause against him ; and also thereby his death had been without all suspicion of martyrdom, neither had there followed that shnning and saluting of him as there did. Albeit the secret providence of God, ■which governeth all things, did see this ■way, perciisc, to be best and most necessary for those days. And doubtless, to say liere wliat I think, and yet to speak nothing against cliarity, if the emperors had done the like to the popes contending against them, what time they had taken them prisoners ; that is, if they had used the law of the sword against them, and chopped off the heads of one or two, according to their traitorous rebellion, they had broken the neck of much disturbance, which long time after did trouble the church. But for lack of that, because emperors lia\ing the SAvord, and the truth on their side, would not use their sword ; but standing in awe of the pope''s vain curse, and reverencing his seat for St. Peter's sake, durst not lay hand upon him, though lie were never so abominable and traitorous a malefactor : the popes, per- ceivmg that, took upon them, not as much as the Scripture would give, but as much as the superstitious fear of emperors and kings would suffer them to take ; ■svliicli was so much, that it past all order, rule, and measure : and all, because the superior powers either would not, or durst not, practise the authority given unto them of the Lord, upon those inferiors, but suffered them to be their masters.
But, as touching Thomas Becket, Avhatsoever is to be thought of them that did the act, the example thereof yet bringeth this profit with it, to teach all Romish prelates not to be so stubborn, in-such matters not pertaining unto them, against their prince, unto Avhom God hath subjected them.
Now to the story, Avhich if it be true that is set forth in Quad- Thomas rilogo, by those four,' who took upon them to express the life and deTcrfbcd process of Thomas Becket, it appcareth by all conjectures, that he wiis a man of a stout nature, severe, and inflexible. \\'hat persuasion or opinion he had once conceived, from that he would in nowise be removed, or very hai-dly. Threatening and flattery were to him both
(I) Herbertus de Boscliam. Joliiin Cluiniot, Alanus, abbot of Tewkesbury \Villiiiiu of Canter- bury
108 Till. CIlARAnKK OK THOMAS BECKET.
iiriinjU. one; in this point singular, following no iiian''s counsel so much as "^"^ his own. (ircat hcljis of nature there were in him, if he could have 1117 used them well, rather than of learning; albeit somewhat skilfvd to he was of the civil law, which he studied at Bologna ; in memory H61. excellent good, and also well broken in courtly and worldly matters. Besides tJiis, he was of a chaste and strait life, if the histories be true ; although in the first part of his life, being yet archdeacon of Canterbury, and afterwards lord chancellor, he was very civil, courtlv, and pleasant, given much both to hunting and hawking, according to the guise of the court ; and highly favoured he was of his j)rince, who not only had thus promoted him, but also had com- mitted his son and heir to his institution and goveniance. But in this his first beginning he was not so well-beloved, l)ut afterwards he was again as much hated, and deservedly, both of the king, and also of the most part of his subjects, save only of certain monks and priests, and such others as were persuaded by them, who magnified him not a little for upholding the liberties of the church ; that is, the licentious life and excess of churchmen. Amongst all others, these vices he had most notable, and to be rebuked ; he was full of devo- tion, but without any true religion : zealous, but clean without know- ■what ledge. And, therefore, as he was stiff and stubborn of nature, so of'bUnd {^ blind conscience being joined withal) it turned to plain rebellion, zeaidcsti- gQ supcrstitious he was to the obedience of the pope, that he forgot right / his obedience to his natural and most beneficent king : and in main- icdgc. taining, so contentiously, the vain constitutions ani decrees of men, he neglected the commandments of God. But herein was he most of all to be reprehended, that not only, contrary to the king''s know- ledge, he sought to convey himself out of the realm, being in that place and calling, but also, being out of the realm, he set matter of discord between the pope and his king, and also between the French king and him, contrary to all honesty, good order, natural subjection, and true Christianity. Whereupon followed no little disquietness after to the king, and damage to the realm, as here, in process and order following, by the gi-ace of Christ, we will declare ; first begin- ning with the first rising up of him, and so consequently prosecuting in order his story, as followeth : — Poiydore And first, to omit here the progeny of him and of his mother, eth the named Rose, whom Poiydore Virgil falsely nameth to be a Saracen, Bccket.°^ when indeed she came out of the parts bordering near to Normandy ; to omit also the fabulous vision of his mother, mentioned in Robert of Cricklade, of a burning torch issuing out of her body, and reaching up to heaven ; his first preferment was to the chiu"ch of Branfield, which he had by the gift of St. Alban's.^ After that, he entered into the service of the archbishop of Canterbury, by whom he was then preferred to be his archdeacon ; and afterwards, by the said Theobald, lie was ])ut, as a man meet for his purpose, to King Henry, to bridle the young king, that he should not be fierce against the clergy ; Avhom in process of time the king made lord chancellor, and then he left playing the archdeacon, and began to play the chancellor. He fashioned his conditions like to the king's both in weighty matters and trifles ; he wovdd hunt with him, and watch the time when the
(I) Ex Roberto Crikeladcnsi cl ex I'lorilego. [Sec Appendix.]
CAUSES OK HIS VARIANCK WITH THK KIXG. 1.99
king dined and slept. Furthermore, he began to love the merry iienryii. jestings of the court, to delight himself with the great laud of men, "aTd." and praise of the people. And, that I may pass over his household nei stuff, he had his bridle of silver, and the bosses of his bridle were to worth a great treasure. At his table, and in other expenses, he JJ^ll passed any earl : so that, on the one side, men judged him little to consider the office of an archdeacon ; and, on the other side, they judged him to use wicked doings. He played also the good soldiei under the king in Gascony, and both won and kept towns. When the king sent Thomas, then being chancellor, home into England as ambassador with other nobles, after the death of the archbishop, he willed Richard Lucy, oneof the chiefest, to commend in his name this Thomas to the covent of Canterbury, that they might choose him archbishop ; which thing he did diligently. The monks said, it was not meet to choose a courtier and a soldier to be head of so holy a company, for he would spend, said they, all that they had ; others had this surmise also, because he was in such great favour with the prince, the king''s son, and was so suddenly discharged of the chan- cellorship which he had borne five years. In the four and fortieth year of his age, on Saturday in Whitsun-week, he was made priest, and the next day consecrated bishop, a.u. 1162.
As touching the priesthood of this man, I find the histories vary : Differ- for, if he were beneficed, and chaplain to Theobald, and afterwards chronic archdeacon, as some say, it is not unlikely but that he was priest before ; and not, as most of our English stories say, made priest one day, and archbishop the next.
But however this matter passeth, here is, in the mean time, to be seen, what great benefits the king had done for him, and what great love had been between them both. Now, after Becket was thus promoted, what variance and discord happened between them, remaineth to be shown : the causes of which variance were divers and sundry.
As first, when, according to the custom, the king's officers gathered The of every one hide-money through the realm, for the defence of their variance own country, the king would have taken it to his coffers. But the ^j'teen bishop said, that which every man gave willingly, he shoidd not count *^ ^^1"^ as his proper rent. arch-
Another cause was, that where a priest was accused of murder, and ^^^ °P' the king's officers and the friends of the dead accused the priest earnestly before the bishop of Salisbury, his diocesan, to whom he was sent, desiring justice to be done on him, the priest was put to his purgation. But when he was not able to defend himself, the bishop sent to the archbishop to ask what he should do. The archbishop commanded he should be deprived of all ecclesiastical benefices, and shut up in an abbey to do perpetual penance. After the same sort were divers clerks handled for like causes, but none put to death, nor lost joint, nor were they burned in the hand, or put to the like pain.
1'he third cause was, that, where one Bruis, canon of Bedford, did revile the king's justices, the king was offended with the whole clergy. For these and such like the archbishop, to pacify the king's anger, commanded the canon to be whipped and deprived of his
200 OLD LAWS TO WHICH BECKET CON'SENTED.
Henry II. bciioficcs foF ccrtaiii Ycars. liut tlie king Avas not content with this ^ j^ gcnllc puiiishinciit, because it ratlier increased tlieir boldness, and 1164. iherctbrc lie called the archbishop, bishops, and all the clergy, to
assemble at Westminster. When they were assembled together, the
king earnestly commanded that such wicked clerks should have no privilege of tlieir clergy, but be delivered to the gaolers, because they passed so little of the spiritual correction; and tliis he said also their own canons and laws had decreed. The archbishop, counselling with ]iis bishops and learned men, answered probably :' and in the end he desired heartily the king's gentleness, for the quietness of himself and liis realm, that under Christ our new king, and under the new law of Christ, he would bring no new kind of punishment into his realm upon the new chosen people of the Lord, against the old decrees of tlie holy fathers; and oft he said, that he neither ought nor could suflfer it. The king moved therewith (and not without cause) allegeth again and exacteth the old laws and customs of his grandfather, observed and agreed upon by archbishops, bishops, prelates, and other privileged persons; inquiring likewise of him whether he would agree to the same, or else now in his reign would condemn that which in the reign of his grandfiither was well allowed.^ To which the archbishop, consulting too-ethcr with his brethren, giveth answer again, that he was contented the king's ordinances should be observed; adding tliis withal, Bccket's Salvo ordi nemo, that is, Saving his order. And so in like manner all s ainetiio. ^■^^^ sauie addition, Salvo ordine sua. Only Hilary, bishop of Chi- chester, perceiving the king to be exasperated with that addition, instead of Salvo ordine, agreed to observe them Bona fide. The king hearing them not simply to agree unto him, but with an exception, was mightily offended; who then turning to the archbishop and the prelates said, that he was not well contented with that clause of theirs, Salvo siio ordine, which he said was captious and deceitful, having some manner of venom lurking under ; and therefore re- quired an absolute grant of them without any exception to agree to the kind's ordinances. To this the archbishop answered airain, that they had sworn unto him their fidelity, both life, body, and earthly honour, Saho ordine suo ; and that in the same earthly honour also those ordinances were comprehended, and to the ob- serving of them they would bind themselves after no other form, but as they had sworn before. The king with this was moved, and all his nobility, not a little. As for the other bishops, there was no doubt but they would easilv have relented, had not the stoutness of the archbishop made them more constant than otherwise they would have been. The day being well spent, the king, when he could get no other answer of them, departed in great anger, giving no word of salu- tation to the bishops ; and likewise the bishops every one to his own house de))arted. Tiie bishop of Chichester, amongst the rest, was greatly rebuked of the archbishop for changing the exception, contrary to the voice of all the others. The next day following, the king took
(1) " I'roliably," " luculeiiter satis et prohabiliter," (. e. well, discreetly. See Appendix. — Ed.
(2) I'dxi' here breaks llie narrative, as given in the Quadrilo^us, by llie premature intrculuction of ilie stamtes afterwards ))assed at Clarendon (.see i p. liOl, 202 note"(l)), and subsequently con- demned in part and approved in part by Bccket and ilie pope (see pp.204, 216); also by the inser- tion of oilier con.itiliitions sent over by Uie king from Normandy (see \k 219, note (1) ). The pas- sage here omitted will be found infrip. 216, note (1), and p. 219, note (1). Sec Appendix.— Ed.
BECKET S CONTROVERSY WITH [HE KING. 201
from the arclibisliop all such honors and lordships as he had given nennjir. him before, in the time that he was chancellor ; and in the dead ~a~D~ of the night, unknown to the bishops, removed from London ; whereby wei, appeared the great displeasure of the king against Becket and the clergy. Not long after this, the bishop of Lisieux, called Arnulph, sailing over from Normandy, resorted to the king and (haply, to recover again his favour which he had lost) gave him counsel withal to join some of tiie bishops on his side, lest, if all were against him, perad venture he might be overthrown.' And thus the greatest number of the bishops were by this means reconciled again to the king ; only the archbishop, with a few others, remained in their stoutness still. The king, thinking to try all manner of ways, when The stub- he saw no fear nor threats could turn him, did assay him with fu["ess'of gentleness ; it would not serve. Many of the nobles laboured betwixt Becket. them both, exhorting him to relent to the king ; it would not be. Likewise the archbishop of York, with divers other bishops and abbots, especially the bishop of Chichester, did the same. Besides this, his own household daily called upon him, but no man could persuade him. At length, understanding partly by them that came to him what danger might happen, not only to himself, but to all the other clergy, upon the king's displeasure, and partly considering the old love and kind- ness of the king towards him in time past, he was content to give over to the king's request, and came to Oxford to him, reconciling himself about the addition, which displeased the king so much. Whereupon the king, being somewhat mitigated, receiveth him with He re- a more cheerfal countenance, but yet not all so familiarly as before, theTing? saying, " that he would have his ordinances and proceedings after the form confirmed in the public audience and open sight of his bishops and all his nobles." After this the king, being at Cla- rendon, there called all his peers and prelates before him, requiring to have that performed which they had promised, in consenting to the observing of liis grandfather''s ordinances and proceedings. The archbishop, suspecting 1 cannot tell what in the king''s promise,^ drew backward, and now Avould not that he would before ; at last, with much ado, he was enforced to give assent. First came to him the bishops of Salisbury and Norwich, who, for old matters endangered to the king long before, came weeping and lamenting to the archbishoj), desiring him to have some compassion of them, and to remit this pertinacy to the king, lest if he so continued through his stoutness to exasperate the king's displeasure, haply it might redound to no small danger, not only of them who were in jeopardy already, but also of himself to be imprisoned, and the whole clergy to be endan- gered. Besides these two bishops, there went to him other two noble peers of the realm, labouring with him to relent and condescend to the king's desire ; if not, they should be enforced to use violence as would not stand with the king's fame, and much less with his quietness : but yet the stout stomach of the man would not give over. After this came to him two knights, called Templars ; one, Richard de Hastings, the grand master of the Temple, the other, Tostes de St. Omer,' lamenting and bewailing the great peril, which they declared unto him to hang over his head : yet neither with their
(1) See Appendix. (2) Ihii). (.T) Ibid.
OQ2 HECKET YIELUS, BUT RKPEXTS.
lunryii. tcars, nor with tlicir kncclings, would lie be removed. At length came
. ^ these last messenirers airain from the kinij, signifying unto him wif.i
\{g\. express words, and also with tears, what he should trust to, if he
•would not give over to the king's request.
Becket By reason of which message he either terrified or else persuaded
t'o'the"' was content to submit himself; whereupon the king incontinent ''•"8 assembling the states together, the archbishop first, before all others, bcginneth to promise to the king obedience and submission unto liis customs, and that cum Bojia fde, leaving out his former addition Sahovr- Salvo ovd'nie, mentioned before: instead whereof he promised in ourirT'* Verbo veritatis to observe and keep the king's customs, and sware to compo- ^],(.
•ition. . . ' , . ,
whereupon the king commanded incontinent certain instruments' obligatorv to be drawn, of which the king should have one, the arcii- bishop of Canterbury another, and the archbishop of York the third, requiring also the said archbishop to set to his hand and seal. To this the archbishop, though not denying but that he was ready so to do, yet desired respite in the matter, while that he, being but newly- come to his bishopric, might better peruse with himself the aforesaid customs and ordinances of the king. This request, as it seemed but reasonable, so it was readily granted ; so the day being well spent, they departed for that season and brake up. Becket ALiuus, onc of the four writers of the life of this Thomas Becket, J^f'^hu*"' recordeth, that the archbishop, in his journey toAvards Winchester, He^d bpgan greatly to repent what he had done before, partly through the instigation of certain about him, but chiefly of his cross-bearer, who, going before the archbishop, sharply and earnestly expostulated with him for giving over to the king's request, against the privilege and liberties of the church, polluting not only his fame and conscience, but also giving a pernicious example to those who should come after, with many like Avords. To make the matter short, the archbishop was touched upon the same Avith such repentance, that keeping him- self from all company, lamenting wdth tears and fasting, and Avith much penance macerating and afflicting himself, he did suspend him- self from all divine service, and would not receive comfort, before that (word being sent to his holy grandfather the pope) he should be assoiled of him ; Avho, tendering the tears of his dear chicken, directed to him letters again, by the same messenger that Thomas had sent up to him before, in AA'hich not only he assoiled him from his trespass, but also Avith Avords of great consolation did encourage him to be stout in the quan-el he took in hand. The copy of Avhich letters consolatory, sent from the pope to Bishop Becket, here followeth underAvritten.
A letter Alexander, bishop, &c. — Your brotherhood is not ignorant that it hath been of Por,e advertised us, how that upon the occasion of a certain transgression or excess andcr to °^ yours, you have determined to cease henceforth from saying of mass, and to Thomas abstain from the consecration of the body and blood of the Lord ; which thing Becket. jq ^^^ \■^^^^y dangerous it is, especially in such a personage, and also what incon- venience may rise thereof, I will you advisedly to consider, and discreetly also to ponder. Your wisdom ought not to forget, wliat difference there is between tho e Avho advisedly and willingly do offend, and those who through ignorance and for necessity' sake do offend. For, as you read, so much the greater is wilful sin, as the same not being voluntary is a lesser sin. Therefore, if you remember
(I) For the instrument here mentioned see infra, p. Slfi, note (I).
HE ATTEMPTS TO QUIT THE HEALM. 203
yourself to have done any thing that your own conscience doth accuse you of, jjenry U.
whatsoever it be, we counsel you, as a prudent and wise prelate, to acknowledge
the same. Which thin^ done, the merciful and ])itii\il God, who hath more A.I). respect to the heart of the doer than to the thing done, will remit and forgive 1164. you the same according to his accustomed great mercy. And we, trusting in the merits of the blessed apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, do absolve you from the offence committed, and by the authority apostolical we i-elease you unto yom- fraternity, counselling you and commanding you, that henceforth you abstain not, for this cause, from the celebration of the mass.
This letter, with others of the like sort, tlic pope then wrote to him, animating and comforting him in this qnarrel so nearly pertain- ing to the pope's profit : by the occasion whereof, Becket took no small heart and consolation ; insomuch that therefrom seemeth to me to proceed all the occasion that made him so stout and malapert against his prince, as hereafter foUoweth to be seen by his doings. What the other letters were that the pope wrote unto him, shortly, when we come to the appellations made to the pope, shall appear, God willing. In the mean season, as he sat thus mourning at home, the king hearing of him, and how he denied to set his seal to those sanctions, which he condescended to before, took no little displeasure against him ; insomuch that he, threatening him and his with banish- ment and death, began to call him to reckonings, and to bm-den him with payments, that all men might understand that the king's mind was sore set against him. The archbishop hereupon (whether more Becket for the love of the pope, or cfread of his prince) thought to make his enterpris- escape out of the realm, and so went about in the night, with two or against three with him, stealing out of his house to take the sea privily. Now laws^'ofly amongst the king's ordinances and sanctions, this was one; that none ""• oJ''^ of the prelacy or nobility, without the king's license, or that of his justices, should depart out of the realm. So Becket twice attempted the sea, to flee to the see of Rome, but the weather not serving, he "was driven home again, and his device for that time frustrated. After his departure began to be known and noised abroad, the king's officers came to Canterbury to seize upon his goods in the king's behalf; but as it chanced, the night before their coming, Becket being returned and found at home, they did not proceed in then- purpose.
Upon this the archbishop, understanding the king sore bent against Taunted him, and the seas not to serve him, made haste to the court, lying |;[„*i^^ then at Woodstock, where the king received him, after a certain manner, but nothing so familiarly as he was wont ; taunting him jestingly and men-ily, as though one realm Avas not able to hold them both. Becket, although he was permitted to go and come at his pleasure to the court, yet could not obtain the favour that he would, perceiving both in himself, and confessing no less to others, how the matter would fall out, so that either he should be constrained to give over with shame, or stoutly stand to that which he had so boldly taken in hand. The bishop of Evreux in the mean time, going betwixt the king and the archbishop, laboured to make a peace and love betwixt them ; but the kin^ in no case would be reconciled, unless the other would subscribe to his laws. So in the mean while, as neither the king would otherwise agree, nor yet the archbishop in any wise would subscribe, there was a foul discord ; where the fault was, let the reader
204 ( RAFTY niSSIMULATIOX OF THE POPE.
^'"'^ ^^- here '}\X(h^Q between them both. The king, for liis regal authority, A.D. tlionght it nineli that any subject of his sliould stand against liini. 1164. The arehbishoj) again, bearing himself bold upon the authority, and cspeeiallv upon the letters, of the pope, lately written to him, tliought himself strong enough against the king and all his reahn. Again, such was his quarrel for the maintenance of the liberties and glory of the church, that he could lack no setters on and favourers in that" behalf, in so sweet a cause amongst the clergy. Wherefore the archbishop, trusting to these tilings, would give no place ; but, by virtue of his apostolical authority, gave censure upon these laws and constitutions of the king, condemning some, and approving others for good and catholic, as is after' declared. Besides this, there came also to the king Kotrou, archbishop of Rouen, sent from the pope, to make peace between the king and Canterbury ; whereunto the king was well content, so that the pope would agree to ratify his ordi- nances;'but when that could in nowise be obtained at the pope's hands, then the king, being stopped and frustrate of his purpose by reason of Becket''s apostolic legacy (being legatus a latere), thought good to send up to the pope, and so did, to obtain of him, that the same authority of the apostolic legacy might be confen-ed on another after his appointment, who was the archbishop of York ; but the ■xne king popc denied. Notwithstanding, at the request of the king's clergy, poplf's"'^ the pope was content that the king should be legate himself; whereat legate, the king took great indignation, as Hoveden Avriteth, so that he sent the pope his letters again. Here the pope was perplexed on both sides.
If he should have denied the king, that was too hot for him ; for the pope useth always to hold in with kings, howsoever the world speedeth. Again, if he should have forsaken such a churchly chap lain, the cause being so sweet and so gainful, that would have been against himself. What did he then ? Here now cometh in the old practice of popish prelacy, to play with both hands ; privily he con- Crafiy spirctli with the one, and openly dissemblcth with the other. First, uximo't he granted to the king's ambassadors their request, to have the legate the pope, removed, and to place in that office the archbishop of York, after his own contentation ; and yet, notwithstanding, to tender the cause of Thomas Becket, he addeth this promise withal, that the said Becket should receive no harm or damage thereby. Thus the pope craftily conveying the matter between them both, gladly to further the arch- bishop for his own advantage, and yet loath to deny the king for displeasure, writeth to the king openly, and also secretly directeth another letter to Becket ; the contents whereof here follow.
Alexander the pope, to Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury.*
The Although wo, condescending to the king's request, have granted the gift
rnfuctter °^ °"'' l''?***")' "f'^T liis mind from you, yet let not your mind tliereby be toBcckct. discomforted, nor brought into sighs of despair. For before that we had granted that, or given ()\n- consent thereinito, tlie king's ambassadors firmly promised on tlie word of truth, ofi'ering also to be sworn to the same, if I should so require, that our letters which they had obtained should never be delivered to the archbishop of York without our knowledge and consent. This is certain,
,1) See infrA, p. 210, note (1).— En.
ri) Y.\ l{o;;cro Hnveil. pr. parte Historiae continuatoe post Bcdam.
(J) For the Latin of this letter, sec Edition 156;', p. 50.— Ku.
BECKKT CITKD TO NORTIIAMI'TOX. 205
end so persuade yourself boldly without any scruple, doubt, or inis'irust, tliat it Henry U.
was never my mind or purpose, nor ever shall be, God willin";, to subdue you
or your church under the obedience of any person, to be subject to any, save "^- Y' only to the bishop of Rome. And, therefore, we warn you and charge you, that ' '"'• if you shall perceive the king to deliver these aforesaid letters, which we trust he will not attempt without our knowledge to do, forthwith by some trusty messenger and by your letteis you give us knowledge thereof; so that we may provide upon the same Loth for your person, your church, and also the city committed to you, to be clearly exempt by our authority apostolical from all power and jurisdiction of any legacy.
Upon these letters and snch others, as is said before, Bccket seemed to take all his boldness to be so stout and stnrdy against his prince, as he Avas. The pope, beside these, sent secretly a chaplain of his, and directed another letter also unto the king, gi-anting and per- mitting at his request, to make the archbishop of York legate apostolical.
The king, after he had received his letters sent from the pope, began to put more strength to his piir[30scd proceedings against the More archbishop, first beginning with the inferiors of the clergy, such as i,'iTj"irt.(i were offenders against his laws : as felons, robbers, quarrellers, "^""lers breakers of the peace, and especially such as had committed homicide cicr^'y- and murders, whereof more than an hundred at that time -were proved upon the clergy;* urging and constraining them to be an-aigncd after the order of the law temporal, and justice to be ministered to them according to their deserts ; as first, to be deprived, and so to be committed to the secular hands. This seemed to Becket to derogate from the liberties of holy church, that the secular powder should pass in causes criminal, or sit in judgment against any eccle- siastical person. This law the roisters^ then of 'the clergy had picked and forged out of Anacletus and Euaristus, by whose falsely alleged and pretended authority they have deduced this their consti- tution from the apostles, which giveth immunity to all ecclesiastical persons to be free from secular jurisdiction. Becket therefore, like a valiant champion, fighting for his liberties, and having the pope on his side, would not permit his clerks defamed, otherwise to be con- vented, than before ecclesiastical judges, there to be examined and deprived for their excess, and no secular judge to proceed against them : so that, after their deprivation, if they should incm- the like offence again, then the temporal judge to take hold upon them ; otherv/ise not. This obstinate and stubborn rebellion of the arch- bisliop stiiTcd up much anger and vexation in the king, and not only in him, but also in the nobles and all the bishops, for the greater part, so that he was almost alone, a wonderment to all the realm.
The kirig''s wrath daily increased more and more against him (as no Becket marvel it was), and caused him to be cited up to appear by a certain N^mh-" day' at the town of Northampton, there to make answer to such ampto"- things as should be laid to his charge. Hovcdcn writeth, that the king being come thither greatly vexed the archbishop by i)lacing some of his horses and horsemen in the archbishop''s lodging (which was a house there of canons), wherewith he being ottcndcvl sent word to the king, that he would not appear unless his lodging were voided of the king's horses and horsemen. So, Avhen the ^^^^^^^l' morrow was come, all the peers and nobles, Avith the prelates of the 7tii.]
(1) Guliel. Neuburg. lib. ii. cap. 16. [See the Latin cited infiA, p. 218, note (.3).— En ]
(i) " Roisters," "facinorosi" (Neub.), disorderlies.— En. (3) Oct. 6th. See Appendix.— El).
QOG AN ACCOUNT DK.M A.SDKU Ol- KKCKKT.
iienryii. roaliii, upoii tlic kiiig's proclamation being assembled in the castle of ^ ^ Northampton, great fault was found with the archbishop, for that he, iKil' having been cited to appear on a certain occasion in tlic king's court
personally, came not himself but sent another for him. Whereu])on,
bv the pul)Iic sentence as well of all the nobles as of the bishops, all his
demncd niovcablcs were adjudged to be confiscate for the king, unless the king's
i" ""-' „ clenienev would remit the penalty. The stubborn archbishop amin,
loss of nil „ , . ■^ 1,. • i ii 1 ^ p o .^ ■ \
move- fur his part, quarrelling against the order and iorm oi the judgment, ''"'"■ complaineth, alleging for himself (seeing he is the primate and sj)iritual father, not only of all otlicrs in the realm, but also of the king himself) that it was not convenient that the father should be so judged of his children, or the pastor of his flock so condemned ; saying moreover, that the ages to come should know what judgment was done, &c. But especially he complaineth of liis fellow-bishops, Avho, when they should rather have taken his part, did sit in judg- ment against their metropolitan; and this was the first day's action. Thursday. The ucxt day the king laid an action against him in bcluilf of one that was his marshal, called John, for certain injm-ies done to him ; and required of tlie said arclibishop the repaying again of certain money, Avhich he, as is said, liad lent unto liim being chancellor, the sum whereof came to five hundred marks. This money the archbishop denied not but he had received of the king, howbeit, by the way and title of gift as he took it, though he could bring no probation thereof, necket AVliereupou the king required him to put in assurance for tlie payment tol^v'ean thereof; whereat the archbishop making delays (not well contented account. j,t the uiattcr), was so called upon, that either he should be account- able to the king for the money, or else he should incur present danger, the king being so bent against him. The archbishop, being brought to such a strait, and destitute of his own suffiagans, could here by no means have escaped, had not five persons, of their own accord, stepped in, being bound for him, every man for one hundred marks a piece ; and this was upon the second day concluded. Friday. The morrow after, which was the third day of the council, it was propounded unto him in the behalf of the king, that he had had divers bishoprics and abbacies in his hand which Avere vacant, with the fruits and revenues thereof due unto the king for certain years, whereof he had rendered as yet no account to the king ; wherefore it was de- manded of him to bring in a full and clear reckoning of the same. This, Avith other such like, declared to all in the council great displeasure to be in the king and no less danger toAvard the archbishop. Becket, astonished at this demand, begged leave to consult with his brother bishops apart, before he made his answer ; Avhich Avas granted. And so ended that day's action. Saturday. Qu the morrow,* the archbishop was sitting apart in a certain conclave Avith his fellow-bishops about him, consulting together, the doors fast locked to them, as the king had willed and commanded.* Thus Avhile the bishops and prelates Avere in council, advising and deliberating Avhat Avas to be done, at length it came to voices, every man to say his mind, and to give sentence what Averc the best way for their archbishop to take. First began Henry, bishop of Winchester, Avho then rit-nry. took part with Becket so much as he durst for fear of the king, wm'Tic"/- ^^'^'o said, he remembered that the said archbishop, first being
tpr.
(M Po: AiT^ndix. (2) Ibici.
THE ADVICE OK THE BISHOPS. 207
archdeacon, and then lord cliancellor, at what time lie was promoted Heuryii. to the church of Canterbury, w;is discharged from all bonds and "TIT"' reckonings of the temporal coui-t, as all the other bishops could not ii'64[
but bear record to the same. ~
Next spake Gilbert, bishop of London, exhorting and motioning Gilbert, the archbishop, that he should call to mind with himself, from whence ^'^^'^'^p °'" the king took him, and set him up ; what, and how great things he had done for him ; also that he should consider with himself the dangers and perils of the time, and what ruin he might bring u])on the whole church, and upon them all there present, if he resisted the king's mind in the things he required. And if it were to render up his archbishopric, although it were ten times better than it is, yet he should not stick with the king in the matter. In so doing it might happen, that the king, seeing that submission and humility in him, would release him peradventure from all the rest. To this the arch- bishop answering, " Well, well," saith he, " I perceive well enough, Henry, my lord, whither you tend, and whereabout you go." Then spake °,^gJter" Winchester, inferring upon the same, " This form of counsel," saith he, " seemeth to me very pernicious to the catholic church, tending to our subversion, and to the confusion of us all. For, if our arch- bishop and primate of all England do lean to this example, that every bishop should give over his authority and the charge of the flock- committed to him, at commandment and threatening of the prince, to Avhat state shall the chui-ch then be brought, but that all should be confounded at his pleasure and arbitrement, and nothing stand certain by any order of law ; and so as the priest is, so shall the people be?"'
Hilary, the bishop of Chichester, replieth again to this, saymg, " If Hilary, it were not that the instance and the great perturbation of the time chaster, did otherwise require and force us, I would think this counsel here given were good to be followed. But now, seeing the authority of our canon faileth and cannot serve us, I judge it not best to go so strictly to work, but so to moderate our proceedings, that dispensation with sufferance may win that which severe correction may destroy. Wherefore my counsel and reason is, to give place to the king's pur- pose for a time, lest by over hasty proceeding, we exceed so far, that both it may redound to our shame, and also we cannot rid ourselves out again when we would."
Much to the same end spake Robert, the bishop of Lincoln, after Robert, or this manner : " Seeing," saith he, " it is manifest that the life and ^'"^°^"- blood of this man is sought, one of these two must needs be chosen ; that either he must part with his archbishopric, or else ■with his life. Now what profit he shall take in this matter of his bishopric, his life being lost, I do not greatly see."
Next followed Bartholomew, bishop of Exeter, with his advice, cartimio- who, inclining his counsel to the state of the time, confirmed their Exeter, sayings before, affirming how the days were evil and perilous ; and that if they might so escape the violence of that raging tempest under the cover of bearing and relenting, it were not to be refused ; but that, he said, could not be, except strict severity should give place to tractability ; and that the instance and condition of the time then present required no less, especially seeing that persecution was not
208 beckkt's HKri.v to the bishops.
Henry II. gi-iioml, l)ul pcFsonal aiid particular ; and he thought it more holy ^ J) and convenient tor one head to run into some part of danger, than llW that the whole church of England should be subject and exposed to inconvenience inevituhle. RoKer. ''he answer of Roger, bishop of AV^orcester, was devised in a
•"''(".'P di)ul)lc suspense, neither affirming the one, nor denying the other ; d-stcr. whose saving was this, — that he would give no answer on either part ; *■' for if 1," saith he, " should say that the pastoral function and cure of souls ought to be relincpiished at the king's Avill or threatening, then my mouth would speak against my conscience, to the condemna- tion of mine own head. And if I should give, again, contrary counsel, to resist the king"'s sentence, here be they that would hear it, and report it to his Grace, and so I should be in danger to be tlinist out of the synagogue, and for my part to be accounted amongst the public rebels, with them to be condemned ; wherefore neither do I sav this, nor counsel that." Becket ^'''^^ ^^^^^ ^^''^'^ ^^^ consultation of the bishops in that place, the arch- assembled together by the king*'s commandment. Against these repiiet'h voiccs and censures of the bishops, Becket, the archbishop, replieth the'bi-' again, expostulating and checking them with rebukeful words : — " I shops, perceive," saith he, " and understand ye go about to maintain and cherish but your own cowardliness, under the colourable shadow of sufferance ; and, under pretence of dissembling softness, to choke the liberty of Christ's church. Who hath thus bewitched you, O in- sensate bishops ? What mean ye ? Why do yc so under the ])rudent term " dispensation" cloak your manifest iniquity ? Why call ye that dispensation which is in fact a dispensing altogether with the church of Christ ? Let terms serve the matter ; and let not terms as well as the matter itself be perverted from that which is right. For that ye say we must bear with the iniquity of the time, I grant with you ; but yet wc must not heap sin to sin. Is not God able to help the state and condition of his church, but with the sinful dissimulation of the teachers of the church ? Certes God is disposed to tempt you. And tell me, I pray you, whether should the gover- nors of the chm'ch put themselves to dangers for the church, in time of tranquillity, or in time of distress ? Ye will be ashamed to deny the contrary, but in distress. And now then, the church lying in so great distress and vexation, w^hy should not the good pastor put him- self into peril there-for ? For neither do I think it a greater act or merit for the ancient bishops of the old time to lay the foundation of the then church with their blood, than now for us to shed our A great blood for the liberties of the same. And to tell you plain, I think grown it not safe for you to swerve from an example which you have received church, froni your holy elders." After these things were spoken, they sat all Wshopr '" silence for a certain space, being locked in together. At length, may not to find a shift to cause the door to be opened, " I will," saith the Kings and Jirchbishoj), " spcak with two earls who are about the king," and pnncts. ii;i„iefi them who they were. They, being called, opened the door and came in with haste, thinking to hear something which should a|)))ease the king''s mind. To whom the archbishop spake in this manner : — " As touching and concerning the matters between the king and us, we have here conferred together. And forasmuch as we
beckb:t is roiisAKE>j by them. 209
liave them not present with us now, wlio know more in the matter iienryii. than we do, (whose advice wc would be glad to follow,) therefore we ~~\~q~ crave so much respite as to the next day following, and then to give 1164. our answer to the king."" With this message two bishops were sent "
10 the king, who were the bishop of London and the bishop of Rochester. London, to help the matter, and to set quietness, as I take it, adding something more to the message, said to the king, that the archbishop craved a little time to prepare such writings and instru- ments, wherein he should set forth and declare his mind in accom- plishing the king''s desire, &c. Wherefore two barons A\ere sent to him from the king, to grant him that respite or stay ; so that he would ratify that which the messengers had signified to the king. To whom the archbishop answereth, that he sent no such message as was intimated in his name ; but only that the next day he would come and give answer to the king, in that which he had to say. And so the convo- cation of the bishops was dissolved, and they were dismissed home ; so that the most part of them that came w-ith the archbishop, and accompanied him before, now, for fear of the king's displeasure, severed themselves from him. The archbishop, thus forsaken and destitute, as his story saith, sent about for the poor, the lame, and Becket the halt, to come in and furnish his house, saying, that by them he and foV might sooner obtain his victory, than by the others who had so slipped ^^'^^"• from him.
The next day following, because it was Sunday, nothing was done. So the day after, which was the second fery,' the archbishop was cited to appear. But the night before, being taken with a disease called ■passio iliaca, the cholic, all that day he kept his bed, and Avas not Taken able, as he said, to rise. Every man supposing this to be but a nesswhen feigned sickness, as it seemed no less, certain of the chief nobles were ^^ ear"'" sent to try the matter, and to cite him to the court ; namely, Robert, earl of Leicester, and Reginald, earl of Devonshire, to whom the archbishop answered, that that day he was so diseased that he could not come, yea, though he were brought in an horse-litter. So that day passed over. On the morrow, certain that were about him, fearing no less but that some danger would happen to him, gave him counsel in the morning to have a mass in honour of the holy martyr St. Stephen, to keep him from the hands of his enemies that day. a mass When the morrow was come, being Tuesday, there came to him the l^elllen bishops and prelates, counselling and persuading him covertly by to save insinuation, for apertly they durst not, that he would submit himself, his ene- with all his goods, as also his archbishopric, to the will of the king, if ™'^*' peradventure his indignation by that means might assuage. Adding, moreover, that unless he would so do, peijury would be laid against him ; for that he being under the oath of fidelity to keep the king"'s laws and ordinances, now would not observe them. To this Becket, the archbishop, answereth again, — " Brethren, ye see and perceive Beckefs