And truly to testifie of his maiesty how he is disposed to the vnitie of the Catholike fayth: we beleue there is none more faythfull in Christ then he, nor more deuout to God, nor yet more moderate in keeping the vnitie of peace wherunto he is called. And as I may be bold this to protest of our kyng and maister: so neither do I deny the Archbyshop of Caunterbury, to be a man destitute or vnfurnished with giftes and ornamentes in his kynde of callyng: but to be a man both sage and discrete, in such thyngs as to him appertaineth: saue onely that he seemeth to some more quicke and sharpe then needeth. This blot alone if it were not, and that the breach betwene our king and hym had not so happened: both the regiments together, (of the temporalty and spritualty) might quietly haue florished one with the other in much peace and concorde: both vnder a prince so worthy, and a pastor so vertuous. Wherfore (the case so standing as it doth) our message hether, and out supplication to your vigilant prudence is, that (through your fauour and wisedome) the necke of this dissention may be broken: and that reformation of vnitie and loue (by some good meanes) may be sought.

This oration of his, although it was lyked of them for the softnes and moderation therof: yet it could not so perswade the Romishe Bishop to condescende to their sute and request. Which sute was, to haue two legates or arbiters to be sent from his popishe side into England, to examine and to take vp the controuersie betwene the king and the archbyshop. MarginaliaThe Pope tendereth Beckets cause against the kyng.But the pope incensed (as is sayd before) would not graunt to their petition: for as much as it should be (sayth he) preiudiciall, and tendyng to the oppression of the archbyshop to graūt vnto it, he being not present. And therfore, he willed them to tary his commyng vp, otherwise (he being absent) he would not (he sayd in any case) proceede against him. But they (alledging agayne their tyme to be expired appointed them of the kyng, hauing besides other lets and causes as they alledged) said that they coulde not there wait for the commyng of Becket: but returned backe (their cause frustrated) without the Popes blessing to the king. Within foure dayes after, MarginaliaBecket complayneth of his kyng to the pope.Becket cōmeth to the Popes court, where he prostratyng hymselfe at hys feete, brought out of his bosome a scrole conteining the customes and ordinaunces of the kyng, afore mentioned. Fol. 209. The Pope receauing the foresayd scrole, and reading it in the open hearing of his Cardinals, condemned and cursed the most part of the sayd decrees of the kyng, which he called consuetudines auitas, that is his graundfathers ordinaunces. Besides this: the Pope moreouer blameth Becket, for that he so much yelded to them at the beginning, as he did: MarginaliaRepentaūce for his well doing.yet notwithstanding (because he was repentant for his vnaduised fact) he was content to absoile him for the same, and the rather because of his great troubles, whiche he for the liberties of holy church did sustein: and so with great fauour for that day dimised him.

The next day (Alexander the Pope assemblyng his Cardinals together in his secret chamber) appeareth before them archbyshop Becket, hauing this oration to the pope and hys poplings: which here I thought to set out in our vulgare Englishe tongue (translated out of Latin) to the entent that the posteritie hereafter may vnderstand, either the vaine superstition or vile slauery of the churchmē in those dayes: who (being not content with their owne naturall prince and kyng giuen them of God) must seeke further to the Pope: thinking no ecclesiasticall lyuing to be geuen, which is not taken at his hands. The words of his Oration be storied rightly thus.

FAthers and Lordes, I ought not to lye in any place, much lesse before God, and in your presence here. Wherfore, with much sighing and sorow of hart I graunt and cōfesse, that these perturbations of the Church of England be raysed through my miserable fault. For I entred into the fold of Christ, but not by the dore of Christ: for that, not the canonicall election did call me lawfully therunto, but terror of publike power droue me in. MarginaliaBeckets argument: the Pope brought him not in, but the kyng: Ergo God brought him not in.And albeit I against my will tooke this burden vpon me, yet not the will of God, but mans pleasure placed me in the rowme. And therfore, no maruell though all thinges haue gone contrary & backward wyth me. And as for the resigning vp agayne therof: if I had so done, and geuen vp to their handes, the priuilege of my byshoply autoritie whiche I had graūted to me at the commaundement of the kyng (so as my fellow Byshops did instantly call vpon me to doe) then had I left a pernicious and daungerous example to the whole Catholike Church. By reason whereof, I thought to deferre that vnto your presence. And now therfore (recognising wyth my selfe my ingresse not to be Canonicall, and therefore fearing it to haue the worse end: and againe pondering my strength and abilitie not to be sufficient for such a charge) least I should be found to susteine that roome to the ruine of the flocke, to whom I was appointed a pastor vnworthy: I render vp to your fatherly handes the archbishoprike here of Canterbury &c. MarginaliaAnd why might ye not (M. Becket) resigne it as well to his handes of whō ye tooke it.And so putting of hys ryng from his finger, and offering it the pope: desired a Byshop for the Church of Canterbury to be prouided: seeing he thought not himselfe meete to fulfill the same, and so (with teares, as the story saith) ended his oration.

This done, the Archbyshop was byd to stand a part. MarginaliaA consultation betwene the Pope and the Cardinals about Beckets matter.The Pope conferryng vpon this with his Cardinals, about the resignation of Becket what was best to be done: some thought it best to take the occasion offred, thinkyng thereby the kynges wrath might easely be swaged if the church of Canterbury were assigned to some other person, and yet the sayd Becket otherwise to be prouided for notwithstandyng. Contrary, other agayne thought otherwise, whose reason was: If he (which for the liberties of the church had ventred not onely his goodes, dignitie and autoritie, but also his lyfe) should now at the kyngs pleasure be depriued: like as it might be a presidēt hereafter to others in resistyng their king in lyke sort (if his cause were maintained) so contrarywise if it quayled: it should be an example to all other hereafter, none to resist his Prince in the lyke case. And so, might it redounde not onely to the weakenyng of the state of the Catholike Church, but also to the derogation of the popes authoritie. Briefly, this sentēce at lēgth preuayled: and so Becket receaueth his pastorall office at the Popes hand agayne, with commendation and much fauour. But for so much as he could not be wel placed in England: MarginaliaBecket in banishment vij. yeares.in the meane while, the Pope sendeth him with a monkes habit into the abbay Pontiniak in Fraūce: where he remained two yeares, from thence he remoued to Senon where he abode fiue yeares. So the tyme of his exile continued a seuen yeares in all. &c.

Vpon this, the kyng beyng certified by his ambassadours of the Popes aunswere, how his fauour enclined more to Becket then to hym: was moued (and worthely) with wrothfull displeasure. Who vpon the same saylyng frō England vnto Normandy, directed ouer certaine iniunctions agaynst the Pope and the archbyshop of Canterbury, as were recited aboue. Fol. 209. The contētes wherof were declared to be these.

If any person shalbe found to bring from the Pope, or from the Archbyshop of Canterbury. &c.

Of these and such other iniunctions Becket specifieth partly in a certaine letter, writyng to a frend of his in this maner.

THomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, to his welbeloued frend. &c. Be it knowen to your brotherly goodnes, that we with all ours here (by Gods grace) are safe and in good health. Hauyng a good hope and trust to your faythfull amitie, I charge you and require you: that either by the bringer hereof or by some other (whō ye know faythfull and trusty to our Church of Canterbury, and to vs) you write withall spede, what is done. As touchyng the kynges decrees here set out, these they be: MarginaliaThe kynges decreesthat all hauens and portes should be diligently kept: that no letters of the Popes interdict or curse be brought in. And if religious men bring them in, they shall haue their feete cut of: if he be a priest or clerk, he shall lose his priuy members: If he be a lay man, let hym be hanged: If he be a leper, let him be burned. And if any bishop, for feare of the Popes interdict, will depart (besides his staffe onely in his hande) let him haue nothyng els. Also the kynges will is: that all scholers and studētes beyond the Seas shall repayre home, or els lose their benefites. And if they yet shall remaine still, they shal lose the libertie of all returnyng. Further if any such Priests shalbe found (that for the Popes suspēse or interdict will refuse to sing) they shal lose their priuy mēbers. In summe, all such Priestes as shew thēselues rebels to the kyng, let them be depriued of their benefices. &c.

MarginaliaAn. 1166.
Beckets kindred banished.Besides these and such like iniunctions, it was also set forth by the kinges proclamation. an. 1166. that all maner of persons (both men and wemen, whosoeuer were found of the kindred of Thomas Becket) should be exiled without takyng any part of their goodes with them and sent to him, where he was: which was no litle vexation to Becket