fore I considering these thinges, and beholding as wel the peril of the kyng as of our selfe, haue publiquely cōdemned not only those pernitious customs: but all those peruersities & wicked doyngs wherby þ^e church of England is disturbed and brought to confusion: as also the writyng wherby they were confirmed: Excommunicating generally as well þ^e obseruers & exactours therof, as also the inuentours and patrones of the same, w^t theyr fauorers, coūsailers, and coadiutors whatsoeuer, either of the clerlgy or laitie: absoluing also, our bishops from their oth wherby they were so straightly inioyned to the obseruatiō of the same. These are the articles which in þ^e writing I haue principally cōdemned. First þ^t it is inhibited to appeale vnto the see apostolicall, for any cause but by the kinges licence. That a bishop may not punish any man for periury or for breaking of his trothe. That a bishop may not excommunicate any man that holdeth of the king in capite or els to interdict eyther their lande or offices wythout the kinges licence. That Clerkes and religious men may bee taken from vs to secular iudgement. That the king or any other iudge maye heare and decide the causes of the church and tythes. That it shall not be lawful for any archbishop or bishop to goe out of the realme, and to come at þ^e popes call without þ^e kings licence: and diuers others such as these. Namelye also I haue excommunicated Iohn of Oxenforde, which hath communicated with the schismaticke and excommunicate person (Reginald Coloniensis) the which also contrary to the commaundement of the Lord pope and oures, hath vsurped the Deanrie of the church of Salisbury: & hath (to renewe his schisme) taken an othe in the Emperours court. Also I haue denounced and excommunicat Richard of Worceter, because he is fallen into the with same damnable heresie and communicated with that famous schismatike of Colen: deuising and forgyng all mischief possible, with the schismatikes and Fleminges to the destruction of the church of God and especially of þ^e church of Rome, by composition made betwene the king of england and them. Also Richard de Luci, and Ioceline de Bailol, which haue furthered the fauourers of the kings tyrannie and workers of their heresies. Also Ranulph de Broc, and Hugo de sancto claro, and Thomas the sonne of Bernard which haue vsurped the possessions & goods of the church of Caunterbury without our licence & consent. We haue also excommunicated all those which w^tout our licence do stretch out their handes to the possessions and goods of the church of Cant. The king himselfe we haue not yet excommunicated personally: still wayting for his amendment: whō (notwithstandyng) we will not deferre to excommunicate: vnles he quickly amende and be warned by that he hath done. And therfore that þ^e autoritie of the see apostolike & the libertie of þ^e church of God (which in these partes are almost vtterly loste) may be by some meanes restored: it is meete and very necessary that what we herein haue done, the same bee of your holines ratified and by your letters confirmed. Thus I wishe your holines long to prosper and florishe.

By this epistle, he that listeth to vnderstand of the doings and quarels of Becket, may partlye iudge what is to be thought thereof. MarginaliaBecket reprehended for cōplayning of his king.Which his doings, although in som part may be imputed either to ignorance of minde, or blindnes of zeale, or humaine fragilitie: yet in this pointe (so vilely to complaine of his natural prince, for the zeale of the pope) he can by no wise be defended. But such was the blindnes then of the prelates in those daies who measured and estemed the dignitye and libertye of Christes church by no other thing, then onely by goodes and possessions flowyng and abounding in the cleargy: & thought no greater pointe of religion to be in þ^e church then to maintayne the same. MarginaliaExcōmunication abused in priuate reuēge about lādes & possessi.For the which cause they did most abhominably abuse christiā Discipline & excōmunication of the church at that tyme: as by this fore-said epistle may appeare. And what meruaile yf the acts and doinges of this Archbishop seme now to vs in these dayes both fonde and strange: seyng the suffraganes of his owne church & cleargy writing to him: could not but reprehend him, as in this their Epistle translated out of latine into English may be sene.

QVæ vestro (pater) in lōginquo discessu inopinata rei ipsius nouitate turbata sunt: vestra sperabamus humilitate. &c.

MarginaliaThe letters of the bishops to Becket.Such trouble and perturbations as hapned through the straungenes of your departure out of the realm: we hoped by your humility and prudence should haue been reduced again (gods grace working with all) into a peaceable tranquility. And it was no little ioy to vs, to here so of you in those parties where you are conuersaunte, how humbly you there behaued your selfe, nothing vaūsing your selfe against your prince and kyng: and to attempt no risinges or wrastlings against hys kingdome: but that you bare with much patience the burden of pouerty, & gaue your selfe to readyng and prayer, and to redeme the losse of your time spent, wyth fasting, watchings, and teares: and so beyng occupied with spiritual studies, to tend and rise vp to the persecution of vertue, &c. But now through the secret relation of certain, we hear (that we are sory of) that you haue sent vnto him a threatning letter, wherein there is no saluation premised: In the which also, ye pretende no intreating nor prayers for the obtayning of fauour, neither doe vse any frendlye maner in declaryng what you write: but manasing with muche austeritye, threaten to interdict him, and to cut him from the societie of the church. Which thing if you shal accomplish, with like seueritye as in wordes ye threaten to do, you shal not onely put vs out of all hope of any peace, but also put vs in feare of hatred and discord without measure, and without al redresse amongst vs. But wisdom will consider before, the ende of thinges: labouring and endeuoring to finish that which she wisely beginneth. Therefore your discretion shal do wel diligently to forecast and consider whereto ye tend, and what ende may ensue therof, and where about ye goe. Certes we (for our partes) hearing that we do heare, are discouraged from that we hoped for, which before hauing some good cōfort of tranquility to come, are cast from hope to dispaire: so þ^t while one is drawen thus against an other, almost there is no hope nor place left to make entreaty or supplicatiō. Wherfore, writing to your fatherhode we exhort & coūsel you by way of charity, þ^t you adde not trouble to trouble, & heape iniurye vpō iniury. But so to behaue your self, þ^t al manasses set aside, ye rather geue your self to patience and humility, and to yeld your cause to the clemency of God, & to the mercye of your Prince: which in so doing shall heape coales of charity vpon the heades of many. Thus charity shall be kindled, and that which manasinges can not do (by Gods helpe and good mens counsel) pity peradnenture and godlines shall obtaine. Better it were to sustayne pouerty with prayse, then in greate promotiōs to bee a common note to all men. It is ryght well knowen vnto all men, howe beneficiall the king hath been vnto you, from what basenes to what dignity he hath aduaunced you, and also into his owne familiaritie hath so much preferred you: that from the North Ocean, to þ^e mount Perineus he hath subdued al things to your authority: in so much that they were amongst all other accoūted for mē right fortunate, whosoeuer could finde any fauour with you.

And furthermore, least that your estimation should be ouer matched by any nobilitie: he (agaynst the mynde of his mother, and of his realme) hath placed and ratified