cannons: we commaund you, and in the vertue of obedience enioyne you, that if it be so: within three monethes after the receite hereof, you will submit and offer your selfe to due correction and satisfaction to the counsell of our felow bishops, for these your so great excesses: Least other (throughe your example) run into the like offence, and we shall be constrayned to proceede agaynst you wyth seuerer sentence.

Finallye (in the closing vp of your letter) where ye bring in for your appellation agaynst me, a safegarde for you: which rather in deede is an hindraunce to you: that we shoulde not proceede against the inuaders of the church goods, nor against the king in lyke censure, as we haue don against the bishop of Salisbury (as ye say) and hys Deane. To this I answer, God forbid that we haue, or els should hereafter procede or do anye thing against the king or his land, or against you or your churches, inordinately or otherwise then is conuenient. But what if you shall exceede in the same or like transgression, as the bishop of Salesbury hath done: thinke ye then your appellation shall helpe you from the discipline of our seueritye, that ye shall not be suspended? Marke ye diligently whether this be a lawfull appeale, and what is the forme therof. We knowe that euerye one that appealeth, eyther doth it in his owne name, or in the name of another: If in his owne name, eyther it is for some greuance inferred alreadye, or els for that he feareth after to be inferred agaynst him. MarginaliaDiscussing of a true appellationConcerning the first, I am sure there is no greuaunce that you can complaine of as yet (God be thāked) þ^t you haue receaued at my hand, for the which you should appeal from me: neither haue you (I trust) any cause speciall agaynst me so to do. If ye do it for feare that is to come, least I should trouble you or your churches: consider whether this be the feare that ought to fall in constant men, or whether this be the appeale which ought to suspende or stay our power and authority that we haue vpon you and your churches. It is thought therfore of wise men (and we also iudge no lesse) your appeale to be of no force.

MarginaliaThe forme of a true appellationFirst, that it hath not the right forme of a perfect appellation, and also because it is not consonant to reason, and lacketh order and helpe of the law.

Furthermore, if your appellation be in an other mās name, either it is for þ^e king (as most like it is) or for some other. If it be for the kyng, then ye ought first to vnderstand, that appellations are wont to be made to repell, & not to inferre iniury: or to release such as be oppressed, þ^t they should not be oppressed any more.

Wherfore if any man shall enter any appellation (not trusting to the suertye of his cause, but to delay þ^e tyme that sentence be not geuen vpon him) that appellation is not to be receaued. For what state will there bee of the church, if the liberty therof beyng taken away: þ^e goodes of the church spoiled: the bishops driuen from theyr places: or at least not receiued with full restitution of their goodes against the inuaders and spoyles theof: may defend themselues byappealing, thereby to saue thēselues from the penalty of their desert?

What a ruine of the church will this bee? See what ye haue done, and what ye say. Be you not the vicars of Christ, representing hym in earthe? Is it not your office to correct and to bridle ill doers, wherby they may cease to persecute the church? And is it not inough for thē to be fierce and to rage against the church, but þ^t you shuld take their part setting your selues against vs to the destruction of the church? Who euer heard of so mōstrous doynges? Thus it shal be heard and say in all nations and countreyes: that the suffraganes of the churche of Canterbury (which ought to stand with their metropolitane vnto death in defence of the church) now go about by the kings commaundement so much as in them doth lye, to suspend his autority: lest he should exercise his discipline of correction vppon them that rebell against thechurch. MarginaliaOne person cā not both be the appeale maker, and the partye appealed.This one thing I know, that you cānot sustaine two sortes of persons at once: both to be the appeale makers, and to be appealed vp your selues. You be they, which made the appellation: & you be they against whō the appellation is made. Is there any more churches thē one, and the bodye of the same? And how meete were it than, that you beyng the members of the church, should hold together with the head therof? I am afraid brethern lest it may be said of vs: These be the priests which haue sayd where is þ^e Lord? and hauing the law do not know the law. Furthermore this I suppose you (being discret men) are not ignorant of: that such as enter any appellation there, are not wont to be heard: vnlesse the matter of their appellatiō either belongeth to thēselues, or excepte speciall commaundement force them thervnto, or els vnles they take an other mans cause vpō them. First, that it belongeth nothyng vnto you, it is plaine: for so muche as the contrary rather pertaineth to your duety: that is, to punishe and to correcte all suche as rebell against the church. And if he which subuerteth þ^e liberty of þ^e church, and inuadeth the goodes therof (conuerting thē to theyr owne vse) be not heard appealing for his owne defence: muche lesse is an other to bee heard appealing for hym. Wherfore, as in this case neither he can appeale for him selfe, nor yet commaund you so to do: so nether may you receaue the commaundement to appeale for him.

Thirdly as touching þ^e taking of an other mans cause or busines vpon you, to this I saye and affirme: that ye ought in no maner of wise so to do, specially seyng the matter pertaineth to the oppression of the churche, and wherupon ensueth great damage to the same.

Wherfore, seing it neither appertaineth to you, neyther ought ye to receiue any such cōmaūdement, nor yet to take vpon you any such cause as that is: your appeale is neither to be heard, nor stādeth with any law. Is this the deuotion and consolation of brotherly loue whiche you exhibite toyour metropolitan being for you in exile? God forgeue you this clemency. And how now? will ye loke for your letters & messengers to be gently receuyed here of vs? Neyther do I speake this, as though there were any thing in hand betwixt your part & ours: or þ^t we haue done any thing inordinately against the person of the king, or against his land, or against the persons of the church, or intend (by Gods mercy) so to do. And therfore we say briefly and affirme constantly: that our lord the king can not complayne of any wrong or iniurye to be done vnto him, if he (being often called vpon by letters and messengers to acknowledge his faulte, neither will agnise his trespasse nor yet come to anye satisfaction for the same) haue the censure of seueritie by the pope and vs layd vppon him. For no man can say that he vniustly is entreated, whom the law doth iustly punishe. And briefly to conclude, knowe you this for certaine: that extortioners, inuaders, detainers of the church goods, and subuerters of the liberty thereof: neyther haue any autority of the law to maintaine thē, neyther doth their appealing defend them, &c.MarginaliaThough the popes law wil not defend thē yet the law of the scripture will & doth.

MarginaliaThe letter of the empresse to Becket.MY lord the pope commaunded me (and vpon the forgeuenes of my sinnes inioyned me) that I should be a mediator and meanes of peace and concorde betwene my sonne and you, by reconciling of your selfe to hym: wherunto (as you know) ye requested me. Wherfore,the earnester and with more affection (as well for the deuine honor as for holy church) I toke the enterprise vpō me. But this by the way I assure you, that the king, his Barons, and councel, taketh it greuously: that you, whome he entirely loued, honored, and made chiefest in all hys realme (to the intent to haue more comforte and better