an Archbishop. And this I do you to vnderstand: þ^t though the world rage, and the enemy be fierce, and the body trembleth (for the flesh is weake) yet God so fauouring me, I will neither cowardly shrinke, nor vily forsake my flock committed to my charge, &c.

But the bishop of London, contrary to thys commaundement of the Archbishop: MarginaliaLondō appealeth frō the archbyshop.did incontinent appeale frō him. And thus the bishops departed from hym to the court saue only two (Henry Winchester and Ioceline of Salisbury) who returned with hym secretly to his chamber & comforted him. This done, the Archbishop (which yesterday was so sore sicke that he could not stirre out of his bed) now addresseth him to his masse of S. Steuen with all solemnity, as though it had bene an hie festiuall day, with his Metropolitane pall, which was not vsed but vpon the holyday to be worne, &c. MarginaliaA masse to charme awaye persecutoursThe office of his masse began, Sederunt principes, & aduersum me loquebantur: that is, Princes sate & spake agaynst me, &c. (the kinges seruants beyng also there and beholding the matter). For this masse, Gilbert Byshop of London accused Becket afterward, both for that it was done per artem magicam, & in contemptu regis (as þ^e words of Houeden purport) that is, both by arte Magike, and in contempt of the king &c.

The masse beyng ended, the Archbishop (puttyng of hys pall, hys miter and other robes) procedeth to the kings court: but yet not trusting peraduenture so greatly to the strength of hys masse (to make the matter more sure) MarginaliaBecket caryeth with him the sacramēt going to the kyng.he taketh also the sacrament priuely about hym, thinkyng thereby himselfe sufficiently defensed against all bugs. In going to the kinges chamber (there to attend þ^e kings comming) as he was entring the dore, he taketh from Alexander hys crosier, and the crosse with the crossestaffe, in the sight of all that stoode by, and carieth it in himselfe (the other bishops followyng him and saying) he did otherwise then became hym. Amongst other, Rob. bishop of Hereford offered hymselfe to beare hys crosse, rather then he should so do, for that it was not comely: but the Archb. would not suffer hym. Then sayd the bishop of London to him: if the kyng shall see you come armed into his chamber, perchaunce he wyll draw out hys sword against you, which is stronger then yours: and then, what shall this your armour profite you. MarginaliaHoueden referreth not this saying to the bishop of London, but to the archb. of Yorke.The Archb. aunswereth againe: if the kings sword do cut carnally, yet my sword cutteth spiritually, & striketh downe to hell. But you my Lord as you haue plaid the foole in this matter, so you will not yet leaue of your folly for any thyng I cā see: & so he came into the chamber. The king hearing of his commyng and of þ^e maner therof, taried not long but came where Becket was set in a place by himself, with his other Bishops about hym. First, the crier called þ^e prelates and all the lordes of the temporalty together. That beyng done, (and euery one placed in hys seat, accordyng to his degree) the kyng beginneth with a great complaint agaynst the Archb. for hys maner of entryng into the court: not as (sayth he) a subiect into a kynges court: but as a traytor, shewyng hymselfe in such sort, as hath not bene sene before in any christen kinges court, professyng christian fayth. To this, all (there present) gaue witnesse with the kyng: affirmyng hym alwayes to be a vaine and a proud man, & that the shame of his fact dyd not only redound against þ^e Prince him selfe, but also against hys whole realme. Moreouer they sayd that this had so happened to the king, for that he had done so much for such a beast, auauncing him so highly in such place and rowme next vnder hymselfe. MarginaliaBecket called trayter of the kyng and of all his nobles.And so altogether with one cry called hym traytor on euery side, as one that refused to geue terrene honour to the kyng, in kepyng (as he had sworne) hys lawes and ordinances: at whose handes also he had receiued such honour and great prefermēts: and therfore was wel worthy (said they) to be hādled like a periured traitor and rebell. Wherupon, great doubt and feare was what should befall vpon hym. The Archbishop of Yorke commyng downe to his men said, he could not abide to see what the Archb. of Caunt. was like to suffer. Likewise, the Tipstaues and other ministers of the assemble commyng downe with an outcry against hym, crossed them to see his hauty stubbernesse, and the busines there was about hym. Certaine there were of hys disciples sittyng at hys feete, comforting him softly, and bidding him to lay hys curse vpon them. Other (contrary) bidding hym not to curse, but to pray and to forgeue them: and if he loste his lyfe in the quarell of the church and the liberty therof, he should be happy. MarginaliaA blind zeale for the proud libertyes of the Church.Afterward, one of them named Ioannes Stephan, desired to speake somthing in hys eare, but could not be suffred by the kinges marshall, who forbad that no man should haue any talke with him. Then he (because he could not otherwise speake to him) wrought by signes, making a crosse, and looking vp with his eyes and wagging his lips, meanyng that he should pray, and manfully to stand to the crosse. In the meane time commeth to him Bartholmew B. of Excetor: desiring hym to haue regard and compassioon of hymselfe, and also of them, or els they were all like to perish for the hatred of hym: MarginaliaWho so taketh Beckets part is counted a rebel.for there commeth out (sayth he) a precept from the king that he shalbe taken, and suffer for an open rebell, that hereafter taketh your part. It is sayde moreouer, that Iocelinus B. of Salisbury, and William B. of Norwich, are to be had to the place of execution for their resisting and making intercession for the B. of Canterbury. When he had thus said, the Archbishop (lokyng vpon the said bishop of Exceter) auoyde hence from me (saith he) thou vnderstādest not, neither doest sauour those things that be of God.

The Byshops and Prelates then goyng aside by thēselues from the other nobles (the kyng so permittyng them to do) tooke councell together what was to be done. Here the matter stode in a doubtfull perplexitie, for either must they incurre the daūgerous indignation of the kyng, or els with the Nobles they must procede in condemnation agaynst the archbyshop for resistyng the kyngs sanctions: which thyng neither, they themselues dyd fauour. In this straight necessitie (they deuising what way to take) at length agreed vpon this: MarginaliaBecket cited to Rome vpon periury by the byshops.that they with a common assent should cite the archbyshop, to the sea of Rome vpō periury. And that they should oblige and bynde themselues to the kyng with a sure promise, to worke their diligēce in deposing the archbyshop (vpon this condition) that the kyng should promise their safetie, and discharge them frō the perill of that iudgement, which was toward them. So all the Bishops obligyng thēselues thus to the kyng, went forth to the Archbyshop: of whom, one speakyng for the rest (which was Hillary Byshop of Chichester) had these wordes: Once you haue beene our archbyshop, and so long we were bounde to your obedience: MarginaliaBecket condemned of periurie.but now for asmuch as you (once swearyng your fidelitie to the kyng) do resist him: neglectyng his iniunctions and ordinances concernyng and appertayning to his terrene honour and dignitie: we here pronounce you periured, neither be we bounde to geue obedience to an Archbyshop thus beyng periured. But puttyng our selues and all ours in the popes protection, MarginaliaBecket cited to Rome.do cite you vp to his presence. And vpon the same, assigned him his day and tyme to appeare. The Archbyshop aunsweryng agayne, sayd: he heard him well inough. And vpon this sendeth vp to Rome in all hast to þ^e pope, signifieng to him by letters the whole matter, how & wherfore, and by whom he was cited. To whō the pope directed agayne his letters of comfort (as he had done diuers before) the copy wherof here insueth.