IX. If any clerk f(ir felony were taken and so proved, he should be first disgraded, and then

through judgment to be hanged ; or if he were a traitor, to be drawn.
Other laws and constitutions made at Clarendon, in Normandy, and sent to England, whereunto
Becket and the pope would not agree, he being then (led out of the realm.
{Then follow the constitutions given at p. 219, note (I), " Ex Quadrilogo.")
By these and such other laws and decrees it may appear, that the abolishing of the pope is no new thing in the realm of England. This only difference there is, that the pope being driven out then, could not be kept out so long as now he ia. The cause is, that the time was not yet come that Antichrist should su fully he revealed; neither was his wickedness then so fully ripe in tho«e days, as it hath been now in our time. Now, these premised, let us return where we left, to the matter betwixt tlie king and Thomas Becket.
The communication and controversy between the king and Thomas Becket, with hig clergj'.
The king, as is aforesaid, conventing his nobles and clerks together, required to have the punish- ment of certain misdoers of the clergy; but Thomas Becket not assenting thereunto, the king came to this point, to know whether he w.mld consent, with his clergy, that the customs then set fortb in the realm (meaning by the first part of those decrees above .specified) should be observed.]
(I) For this oration in Latin, sec the Edition of I5ii.f, p. 53.— ];d.
DECISION OF THE POPE AKD CAUDIXAI-S. 219
should now at the king's pleasure be deprived, like as it might be a iionryii. precedent hereafter to others in resisting their king in like sort, if his ~p~Q~ cause were maintained, so contrariwise, if it quailed, it should be an 1165. example to all other hereafter not to resist his prince in the like J~^. case ; and so might it redound, not only to the weakening of the suitation
. > J ^ o between
state of the catholic church, but also to the derogation of the pope's the pope authority. Briefly, this sentence at length prevailed : and so Bccket crrm'n^s receiveth his pastoral office at the pope's hand again, with com- ^'g^^gj.j mendation and much favour. But forsomuch as he could not be matter. well placed in England, in the mean while the pope sendeth him with a monk's habit into the abbey of Pontigny in France, where he remained two years ; from thence he removed to Sens, where he abode four years. So the time of his exile continued six years in all.
Upon this, the king being certified by his ambassadors of the pope's answer, how his favour inclined more to Becket than to him, was moved (and worthily) with wrathful displeasure ; who upon the same sailing from England into Normandy, directed over certain Becket in injunctions against the pope and the archbishop of Canterbury, therae"ntsix contents whereof are recited underneath.* ye&ts., ^
Of these and such other injunctions Becket specific th partly in a certain letter, writing to a friend of his in this manner : ^
Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, to his well-beloved friend, &c. Be it known to your brotherly goodness, that we, with all ours here, by God's grace are safe and in good health. Having a good hope and trust in your faithful amity, I charge you and require you, that either by the bringer hereof, or by some other whom ye know faithful and trusty to our church of Canterbury and to us, you write with all speed what is done. As touching the king's decrees here set out, these they be : That all havens and ports should be diligently kept, that no letters of interdict be brought in thereat ; and if a religious man bring them in, he shall have his feet cut off; if he be a priest or clerk, he shall lose his eyes, &c. ;' if he be a layman, let him be hanged; if he be a leper, let him be burned. And if any bishop for fear of the pope's inter- dict will depart the realm, besides bis staff only in his hand let him have nothing
(1) I. If any one shall be found bringing letters of the lord pope, or any mandate of the archbishop of Canterbury, containing an interdict of Christianity \_i.e. the use of the service, sacraments, and holy rites] in England, let him be taken and let justice be executed upon him without delay, as a traitor to the king and the kingdom.