But yet the stout stomacke of the mā would not geue ouer. After this, came to him. ij. rulers of the tēple called Templars: one Richard de Hast: an other Costans de Houerio with their company: lamēting and bewailyng the great peril which they declared vnto him to hang ouer his head: yet neither with their teares nor with their kneelynges, would he be remoued. At length came the last message from the kyng, signifieng vnto hym with expresse wordes (and also with teares) what he should trust to, if he would not geue ouer to the kynges request.

MarginaliaBecket yeldeth to the kyng.By reason of which message, he (either terrefied or els perswaded) was content to submit himselfe. Whereupon, the kyng incontinent assemblyng the states together: the Archbishop first before all other begynneth to promise to the kyng obedience and submission vnto his custome, and that cum bona fide MarginaliaSaluo ordine left out in the composition.leauyng out his former addition, Saluo ordine, mentioned before: in stede wherof he promised in verbo veritatis, to obserue and keepe the kynges customes and sweare to the same. After hym the other Byshops likewise gaue the lyke othe. Wherupon, the kyng cōmaunded incontinent certaine instrumentes obligatorie to be drawne: of the which, the king should haue one: the archbyshop of Canterbury an other: the Archbyshop of Yorke the thyrd: requiryng also the sayd Archbyshop to set to his hand and seale. To the which, the Archbyshop (although not denying but that he was ready so to do) yet desired respite in the matter, while that he (beyng but newly come to his bishoprike) might better peruse with himselfe the foresayd customes and ordinaunces of the kyng. This request as it seemed but reasonable, so it was lightly graunted: and so the day beyng well spent, they departed for that season and brake vp.

MarginaliaBecket repenteth his good deede.Alanus one of the iiij. writers of þ^e life of this Thomas Becket, recordeth: that the archbyshop in his viage toward Winchester, began greatly to repent that he had done before, partly through the instigation of certaine about hym: but chiefly of his crossebearer, who going before the archbishop, did sharply and earnestly expostulate with him for geuyng ouer to the kynges request against the priuiledge & liberties of the Church: polluting not onely his fame and conscience, but also geuing a pernitious example to them that should come after, with many like wordes. To make the matter short: the Archbyshop was so touched vpon the same with such repentaunce, that keepyng himselfe from all company, lamentyng with teares, with fastyng,and with much penaunce maceratyng and afflicting himselfe, did suspend himselfe from all deuine seruice: and would not receiue comfort, before that (word beyng sent to his holy graundfather the pope) he should be assoild of him: who tendryng the teares of his deare chicken, directed to him letters agayne by the same messenger which Thomas had sent vp to him before. In which letters not onely he assoyled him from his trespasse: but also with wordes of great consolation dyd incourage him to be stout in the quarell he tooke in hand. The copy of which letters consolatory sent from the Pope to popish Becket, here follow vnder written.

MarginaliaA letter of Pope Alexander to T. Becket.ALexander Byshop. &c. Your brotherhode is not ignoraunt that it hath bene aduertised vs, how that vpon the occasion of a certaine transgression or excesse of yours: you haue determined to cease henceforth from saying of Masse, and to abstaine from the cōsecration of the body and bloud of the Lord. Which thyng to do, how daungerous it is (especially in such a personage) and also what inconuenience may ryse therof: I wil you aduisedsy to consider, and discritely also to ponder. Your wisedome ought not to forget what difference ther is betwixt them which aduisedly and willyngly do offende, and those which through ignoraunce, and for necessity sake do offend. For as you read, so much the more greater is wilfull sinne: as the same not beyng voluntarie is lesser sinne. Therefore if you remember your selfe to haue done any thyng that your owne conscience doth accuse you of, whatsoeuer it be: we counsell you (as a prudēt and wise Prelate) to acknowledge the same. Which thyng done, the mercyfull and pityfull God who hath more respecte to the hart of the doer then to the thyng done, will remit and forgeue you the same accordyng to his accustomed great mercy. And we (trustyng in the merites of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paule) do absolue you from the offēce committed, and by the authoritie Apostolicall we release you vnto your fraternitie: counsailing you and commaunding you, that henceforth you abstayne not (for this cause) from the celebration of the Masse.

Thys letter with other mo after lyke sort, the pope thē wrote to hym: animatyng and comfortyng him in this qua-rell so nerely pertainyng to the Popes profite. By the occasion whereof, Becket toke no small hart and consolation. In so much, that therof semeth to me to procede, all the occasion that made hym so stout and malapert agaynst his prynce, as hereafter foloweth to be sene by his doinges. What þ^e other letters were that the Pope wrote vnto hym, shortly after (when we come to the appellations made to the Pope) shal appeare God willyng. In the meane season (as he sat thus mournyng at home) the kyng hearyng of hym, and how he denied to set hys seale to those sanctions, which he condescended to before: tooke no little displeasure agaynst hym. In so much that he (threatnyng to him and his, banishment & death) began to call hym to reckonings, and to burdē hym with payments: that all men might vnderstand that the kynges mynde was sore set against hym. MarginaliaBecket enterprising agaynst the kings lawes to flie out of the realme.The Archbishop hereupon (whether more for the loue of the Pope, or dread of his prince) thought to make an escape out of the realme: and so wēt about in the night (with two or three with him stealing out of hys house) to take the sea priuely. Now, amongst other the kings ordinances and sanctions, this was one: that none of the prelacy or nobilitie without the kings lisence (or of his iustices) should depart out of the Realme. So Becket twise attempted the sea, to flee to the see of Rome: but the weather not seruyng, was driuen home againe, and hys deuise for that tyme frustrated. After his departure began to be knowen and noysed abroad: the kinges officers came to Canterbury to season vpon his goodes in the kinges behalfe. But as it chanced the night before their commyng, Becket beyng returned and found at home, they did not procede in their purpose.

MarginaliaBecket taunted of the kyng.Vpon this, the Archbishop (vnderstandyng the kyng sore bent agaynst him, and the seas not to serue hym) made hast to the court, lying then at Woodstocke. Where, the king receiued hym (after a certaine maner) but nothing so familiarly as he was wont: tauntyng him gestingly & merely, as though one realme were not able to hold them both. Becket (although he was permitted to go and come at his pleasure to the court) yet could not obtayne the fauor that he would: perceiuyng both in hymself, & confessyng no lesse to other, how the matter would fall out: so that eyther he should be constrained to geue ouer with shame: or stoutly stand, to that which he had so boldly taken in hand. The Archbishop of Yorke in the meane tyme (goyng betwene þ^e kyng and the Archbishop) laboured to make peace & loue betwene them, but the kyng in no case would be reconciled, vnles the other would subscribe to his lawes. So þ^t while neither the kyng would otherwise agree, nor yet the archb. in any wise would subscribe: there was a foule discorde. Where the fault was, let the Reader here iudge betwene them both. The kyng (for his regall autoritie) thought it much, that any subiect of his, should stand against him. The archbishop againe (bearing himselfe bold vpon the authoritie, and especially vpon the letters of the pope lately writtē to hym) thought hym strong enough against the kyng and all his realme. Agayne, such was hys quarell for the maintenance of the liberties and glory of the church: that he coulde lacke no setters on and fauourers in that behalf, in so swete a cause amongst the clergy. Wherfore, the Archb. (trusting to these things) would geue no place, but by vertue of hys Apostolike autoritie gaue censure vpon these lawes and constitutions of the king: condemning some, and other some approuyng for good and catholik, as is before declared. Besides this, there came also to the kyng Rotrodus Archbyishop of Rotomage (sent from the Pope) to make peace betwene the king and Caunterbury. Wherunto the king was well content, so that the Pope would agre to ratifie his ordinaunces. But when that could in no wise be obtayned at the Popes handes: then the kyng beyng stopped and frustrate of hys purpose by reason of Beckets Apostolicke legacie (beyng legatus a Latere) thought good to send vp to the Pope: And so dyd, to obtayne of hym that the same autoritie of the Apostolike legacy might be conferd to an other after hys appoyntment, which was the Archbishoppe of Yorke. But the pope denyed. MarginaliaEx Rogero Houed. pri. parte historia c?tinuata post Bedam.
The kyng to be the popes Legate.Notwithstandyng at the request of the kings Clergy, the pope was content that the king should be Legate hymselfe: wherat the kyng tooke great indignation (as Houeden writeth) so that he sente the Pope hys letters agayne. Here the pope was perplexed on both sides.

If he should haue denied the kyng: that was to hote for hym. For the Pope vseth alwayes to hold in w^t kinges, how soeuer the world speedeth. Agayne, if he should haue forsaken such a churchly chaplen (the cause being so sweete and so gainfull) that should haue bene agaynst hymselfe: what dyd he then? Here now commeth in the old practise of popish prelacy, MarginaliaThe craftie dissimulatiō of the Pope.to play with both handes, priuily he conspi-