ginnyng he was not so wel beloued: but afterward he was agayne as much hated (and deseruedly) both of the kyng, and also of the most part of hys subiects: saue onely of certayne Monkes and priestes, and such other as were perswaded by them: who magnified hym not a little, for vpholdyng the liberties of the church (that is) the licentious lyfe and excesse of churchmen. Amongest all other, these vices he had most notable, and to be rebuked. Full of deuotiō, but wythout all true religion. Zealous, but cleane wythout knowledge. MarginaliaWhat commeth of blinde zeale destitute of right knowledge.And therfore as he was stiffe and stubburne of nature, so (a blind conscience beyng ioyned withal) it turned to playne rebellion. So supersticious he was to the obedience of the Pope, that he forgot hys obedience to hys naturall and most beneficiall kyng. And in maintainyng (so cōtentiously) the vayne constitutions and decrees of men: he neglected the commaundements of God. But herin most of all to be reprehended, that not onely (contrary to þ^e kings knowledge) he sought to conuey hymselfe out of the realme (beyng in that place and calling) but also (beyng out of the realme) set matter of discord betwene the Pope & his king, and also betwene the French kyng and hym: contrary to all honesty, good order, naturall subiection, and true christianitie. Whereupon followed no little disquietnesse after, both to the kyng and damage of the Realme, as here (in processe and in order folowyng by the grace of Christe) we wyll declare. First beginnyng with the first rising vp of hym, & so cōsequently to prosecute in order hys story as followeth.

MarginaliaThe lyfe of T. Becket.
Polydorus mystaketh the mother of Becket.
Ex Roberto Crikeladensi.
Ex Florilego.And first here to omitte the progenie of hym and of hys mother named Rose, whom Polyd. Vergilius falsly nameth to be a Saracen: when in deede she came out of the partes borderyng nere to Normandy. To omit also the fabulous vision of hys mother, mentioned in Rob. Crikeladensis, of a burnyng torche issuyng out of her body and reachyng vp to heauen: hys first preferment was to the church of Branfield, which he had by the gift of S. Albons. After that, he entred in the seruice of the Archb. of Cāt. by whom he was then preferred to be hys Archdecon. And after by the sayd Theobald was put (as a mā most metest for his purpose) to K. Hēry, to bridell þ^e young kyng þ^t he should not be fierce agaynst þ^e clergy: whom in processe of tyme, the kyng made lord Chauncellor, and then he left playing the archdeacon, and began to play the Chauncelor. He facioned hys conditions lyke to the kings both in waighty matters and trifles. He would hunt wyth hym, and watch the tyme when the kyng dined and slept. Furthermore, he began to loue þ^e mery gestings of the court, to delite himselfe with the great laud of men, and prayse of the people. And that I may passe ouer hys houshold stuffe, he had hys bridle of siluer, and the bosses of hys bridle were worth a great treasure. At hys table and other expences, he passed any earle: That on þ^e one side, men would iudge him little to consider the office of an Archdecon: and on the other side would iudge him to vse wicked doings. He plaied also the good souldiour vnder the kyng in Gascon, and both wan and kept townes. When the king sent Thomas being Chauncelor home into England (ambassador with other nobles after the death of the Archbishop) he willed Ri. Luci (one of the chiefest) to commend in his name, this Thomas to the couent at Canterbury, that they might chose him archbishop, which thing he did diligētly. The monkes sayd, it was not mete to chuse a Courtier and a soldiour to be head of so holy a company, for he would spend (said they) all that they had. Other had this surmise also, because he was in so great fauour with the prince, the kynges sonne, and was so sodenly discharged of the Chauncelorship which he had borne fiue yeares. In the. 44. yeare of hys age (on the Saturday in the Whitson weeke) he was made Priest, and the next day consecrated Bishop.

MarginaliaDifference in Chronicles.As touchyng the priesthoode of thys man, I finde the histories to vary in themselues. for if he were beneficed, and chaplain to Theobald, and afterward archdeacon (as some saye) it is no other lyke, but that he was priest before, & not (as our most english stories say) made priest in the one day, and archbishop the next.

But how so euer this matter passeth, here is in þ^e mean tyme to be sene, what great benefites the king had done for hym, and what great loue had bene betwene them both. Now after that Becket was thus promoted, what variaunce and discord happened betwene them, remayneth to be shewed: The causes of which variaunce were dyuers and sondry.

MarginaliaThe causes of variance recited betwene the king and the Archb.As first when (accordyng to the custome) the kynges officers gathered, of euery one, hyde money through þ^e realm, for the defence of their owne countrey: the kyng woulde haue taken it to hys cofers. But the bishop sayd, þ^t which euery man gaue willingly, he shuld not counte as hys pro-per rente.

An other cause was, that where a priest was accused of murther: and the kinges officers and the friends of the deade accused the priest earnestly afore the bishop of Salisbury his Diocesan to whom he was sent, desiryng iustice to be done on hym: the priest was put to hys purgation. But when he was not able to defend hymselfe, the bishop sent to the archbishop to aske what he should do. The archbish. commaunded he should be depriued of of all ecclesiasticall benefices, and shut vp in an abbey to do perpetuall penance. After the same sort was diuers other handled for like causes, but none put to death, nor lost ioynt, nor burned in the hand, or the like payne.

The third cause was, that where a Chanon of Bruis did reuile the kynges iustices: the king was offended with the whole clergy. For these and such like, the Archbyshop (to pacifie the kinges anger) commaunded the Chanon to be whipped, & depriued of his benefices for certaine yeares. But the kyng was not content with this gentle punishment, because it rather encreased their boldnes: and therfore he called the Archbishop, bishops, and all the clergye to assemble at Westminster. When they were assembled together: the kyng earnestly commaunded, that such wicked Clerkes should haue not priuilege of their clergy but be deliuered to the Iaylers, because they passed so little of that spirituall correction: and this he sayd, also their owne Canons and lawes had decreed. The archbyshop counselyng with his byshops and learned men, aunswered probably: and in the end desired hartely the kynges gentlenes (for the quietnes of hymself and his realme) that vnder Christ our new kyng, and vnder the new law of Christ, he woulde bryng in no new kynde of punishment into his realme (vpon the new and chosen people of the Lord) agaynst the olde decrees of the holy fathers: And oft he saide, that he neither ought nor could suffer it. The kyng moued therwith (and not without cause) alledgeth agayne and exacteth the old lawes and customes of hys graundfather, obserued and agreed vpō by archbyshops, bishops, prelates, and other priuileged persons: inquiring likewise of him, whether he would agree to the same, or els now (in his raigne) would condemne that which in the raigne of his graūdfather was well allowed. To which lawes & customes, the said Thomas did partly graunt, and partly not graunt. The copye of the which foresayd lawes are contayned in the number of. xxviij. or. xxix. whereof I thought here to recite certayne, not vnworthy to be knowne.

MarginaliaThe kings customes.1. THat no orders shoulde be geuen to husband mens children or bondmens children, without the assent or testimoniall of them which be the Lords of the countrey where they were borne and brought vp: and if their sonnes become Clerkes, they shall not receiue the order of priesthoode, without licence of their Lordes.

MarginaliaOut of an Englishe Chronicle it appeareth, drawen out of a frenche by Erle Ryuers lord Scales.2. And if a man of holy Church, holde any lay see in hys hand: he shall do therfore, the kyng the seruice that belongeth thereto, as vpon Iuries, assise of landes, and iudgementes: sauing onely, at execution doing of death.

3. If any man were the kings traytor, and had taken the Church: that it should be lawfull to the kyng and hys officers to take hym out.

4. Also if any fellons goods were brought to holy church, that there should none such keepe there: for euery fellons goodes ben the kynges.

5. That no land should be giuen to the Church, or to any house of religion, without the kynges licence.

1. IF that betwene a clerke, and a lay man, were any striuing for Church goods, they would the ple should be done in the kinges court.

2. That there should neither byshop nor clerke, go out of the land without the kyngs licence: And then he should sweare vpon a booke, he should procure no hurt agaynst the kyng nor none of his.

3. If any man were denounced accursed, and were come agayne to amendement: the kyng would not, that he should be sworne, but onely finde sureties to stand to that holy Church should award.

4. The fourth, that no man that held of the kyng in chief or in seruice, should be accursed without the kyngs licence.

5. That all the Byshoprikes and Abbeyes that were va-