the matter stoode in a doubtfull perplexitie, for either must they incurre the daungerous indignation of the king, or els with the Nobles they must proceede in condemnation against tharchbishop for resisting the kings sanctions: whych thing neither, they themselues did fauour. In thys straight necessitye (they deuising what way to take) at length agreed vpon this: MarginaliaBecket cited to Rome vpō periury by the bishops.that they with a common assent should cite the arhcbishop, to the see of Rome vpon periury. And that they shoulde oblige and binde themselues to the kyng wyth a sure promise, to worke their diligence in deposing the archbishop (vpon this condicion) that the king should promise theyr safetye, and discharge them from the perill of that iudgement, which was toward them. So al the bishops oblyging themselues thus to the king, went forth to the archbishop: of whom, one speaking for the rest (which was Hillary bishop of Chichester) had these wordes: Once you haue ben our archbishop, and so long we were boūd to your obedience: MarginaliaBecket condemned of periurye.but nowe for asmuche as you (once swearing your fidelitie to the king) do resist him: neglecting his iniunctions and ordinances concerning and appertayning to hys terrene honor and dignitye: we here pronounce you periured, neyther be we bounde to geue obedience to an Archbishop thus being periured. But putting our selues and all ours in the popes protection, MarginaliaBecket cited to Rome.do cite you vp to hys presence. And vpon the same, assigned him hys day and time to appeare. The archbishop answering agayne, sayd: he heard him wel inough. And vpon this sendeth vp to Rome in all hast to the Pope, signifieng to him by letters the whole matter, how & wherfore, and by whom he was cited. To whom the Pope directeth agayne hys letters of comfort (as he had done diuers before) the copy wherof here insueth.

YOur brotherly letters which you directed to vs, and such other matters which your messenger by woord of mouth hath signified vnto vs, we haue diligētly herd the reading therof: and therby fully vnderstand the greuous vexations and dolorous griefes wherwith your minde is dayly encombred: by reason whereof, we hearing and vnderstanding, are not a litle disquieted in our spirite for your sake: in whose prosperities we doo both gladly reioyce, and no les do sorrow in your aduersities as for our most deare brother. You therefore (as a constant and wise man) remembre with your selfe that whych is written: The apostles departed awaye (reioysing) from the face of the councel. &c. Wyth like paciēce do you also sustayne that mans molestatiōs, and let not your spirite be troubled therein more then needeth, but receaue in your selfe consolation: that we also together with you, may be comforted in the Lord, who hath preserued you to the corroboration of hys catholike & christen verity, in thys distres of necessitye: & frō whō also it hath pleased him to wype away þ^e blot of such thinges whych haue been vnorderly of you committed, & here to punish the same through sundry afflictions: whereby in (the straite iudgement of God) they might not be called to count hereafter. But henceforth let not this much greue you: neyther let your hart be so deiect or timerous in the matter (for that you are cited vp to the apostolike see) which to vs is both gratefull and accepted. And this we wyll you, that if they whych haue cited you shall chaunce to come: draw not you backe, but folowe the appeale (if ye please) and spare not (all doubt and delay set apart) for the autoritye of the Churche tendryng thys your constancy, may not do that whych maye put you eyther in feare, or doubt. But our diligence shal be wyth all labour and studye, to conserue the right & preheminence (God wyllyng) of that Churche comitted to you, so much as in vs lyeth (sauing our iustice and equi-ty) as to one whom in working for the church, we fynde to be both a cōstant and a valiaunt champion. Further, this I brotherly requyre you, to repaire vnto the church of Canterbury: and reteining but a few clerkes about you (such onely as serue your necessitye) make no excurses out (as litle as you can) in that countrye: but in thys especially I thought to premonishe you (that in no case) neyther for feare or any aduersitye, whatsoeuer maye happen: ye be brought to renounce and geue vp the right and dignity of your church. Writtē at Sene þ^e. 7. before the Kalendes of Nouember.

As the archbishop was thus cited vp to Rome (sitting wyth hys crosse wayting in the court, neyther geuyng place to the kings request, nor abashed with the clamor of the whole court agaynst him calling him traytor on euery syde, neither following the aduertisement of hys fellow bishops) at length the king by certayne Earles & Barons sent commaundent to him, (Robert Earle of Lecester doing the message) MarginaliaBecket caled to a full acoumpt.that he shoulde without delay come and render a full accompt of all thinges that he had receiued, as þ^e profites & reuenues of the realme, in the tyme he was Chauncelour: and especiallye for the. 30000. markes, for the which he was accomptable to the king. MarginaliaEx Rogerio Houedeno.To whom the archbishop answereth again: the king knewe, howe oft he had made his reckening of those thinges which nowe were required of him. Farther and besides, Henry his sonne & heire of his realme, with all his barons, and also Richard Lucye chiefe Iustice of England, told him: that he was free and quyt to God and to holy church, from all receites and computacions, and from all secular exactions on the kings behalfe. And so he taking thus his discharge at their hāds, entred into hys office, and therefore other accompt besides this he would make none. When this woord was brought to the king, he required his barōs to do the law vpon him. MarginaliaBecket iudged to be layd in Prisson.Who so doing, iudged him to be apprehēded, and layd in prison. This done, the king sendeth to hym Reignald Earle of Cornewal and Deuenshire, and Robert Earle of Leicester, to declare to him what was his iudgement. To whom the archbishop answereth: heare (my sonne & good erle) what I say vnto you: how much more precious the soule is more then the body, so much more ought you to obey me in the Lorde, rather then your terrene kiug. Neither doth any law or reason permit the childrē to iudge or condemne their father. MarginaliaEx quadripartita historia lib. 1. cap. 38.
Becket appealeth to the pope.Wherfore, to auoyde both the iudgement of the king, of you, and all other: I put my selfe onely to the arbitrement of the Pope, vnder God alone to be iudged of hym, and of no other. To whose presence here before you all, I doo appeale: committing the ordering of the church of Canterbury (my dignity, with all other thinges apperteyning to the same) vnder the protection of God and hym. MarginaliaBecket thīketh not sufficient the protectiō of God without the pope.And as for you my brethren and fellow bishops (whych rather obey man, then God) you also I call and cite to the audience and iudgement of the Pope, and departe hence forth from you, as from the enemies of the catholyke church, and of the authority of Apostolike see.

Whyle the Barons returned with this aunswer to the king: the archbishop passing through the throng, taketh to him his palfreye (holdyng hys crosse in the one hand, and his bridle in the other) the courtiers folowing after and crying: traytor, traytor, tary & here thy iudgement. MarginaliaBecket flyeth out of the court.But he passed on til he came to the vttermost gate of the court, which being fast locked ther had ben staid, had not one of his seruauntes, called Peter (surnamed Demunctorio) finding there a bunche of keyes hanging by: first proued one key, thē an other (till at last finding þ^e true key) had opened the gate, and let him out. The archbishop went straight to the house of Chanons, wher he did lye, calling vnto him the poore, where they could be found. When supper was done, making as thoughe he would go to bed (which he caused to be made betwixt. ij.