helpe and good mens counsell) pity peradnēture and godlynes shall obtayne. Better it were to sustayne pouerty with prayse, then in great promotions to be a common note to all men. It is right well knowen vnto all men, howe beneficiall the kyng hath bene vnto you, from what basenes to what dignity he hath aduaunced you, and also into hys owne familiaritie hath so much preferred you, that from the North Ocean, to the mount Perineus he hath subdued al things to your authoritie: in so much that they were amongest all other accounted for men right fortunate, whosoeuer could finde any fauour with you.

And furthermore, least that your estimation should be ouermatched by any nobilitie: he (agaynst the mynde of hys mother, and of his realme) hath placed & ratified you substantially in ecclesiasticall dignitie, and aduaunced in thys honour wherin ye stand: trusting thorough your helpe and counsaile to reigne more safely and prosperously. Now, if he shall finde disquietnes, wherin he trusted to haue quietnes: what shall all men say or thinke of you? What recompence or retribution shall this be thought to be for so many and great benefites taken? Therfore (if it shall please you) ye shall do well to fauor & spare your fame & estimation: & to ouercome your Lord and soueraigne with humility & charity. Wherunto, if our aduertisement cannot moue you: yet þ^e loue and fidelitie you beare to the bishop and holy church of Rome, ought to incline you therunto, & not to attempt any such thyng, wherby the troubles of the church our mother may encrease: or wherby her dolor may be augmented in þ^e losse of them, whose disobediēce now she doth bewaile. For, what if it so happen through prouocation, that the kyng (whom all his subiects and kingdomes obey) should relinquish the Pope, which God forbid: and should deny all obedience to hym, as he denieth to the king helpe or ayde against you: what inconuenience would grow therof? And thinke you, he hath not great instigations, supplications, giftes, and many faire promises so to do? Yet he (notwithstanding) abideth firme hetherto in the rocke, despising w^t a valiant mind all that the world can offer. This one thing feareth vs, least his mynd (whom no worldly offers can assaile: no glory, riches, nor treasure can ouerturne) only through indignation of vnkindnes, be subuerted. Which thing, if it chaunce to happen through you, then may you sit downe and sing the song of lamentation with Ieremy, & weepe your belly full.

Consider therfore, (if it shal please you) and foresee wel with your selfe, this purpose of yours (if it procede) howe hurtfull and perillous it will be: not onely to the pope, and to the holy church of Rome, but also to your self most especially. But some peraduenture about you (of hauty & hygh mynded stoutnes, more stoute percase then wyse) will not suffer you to take this way: but wyll geue you contrary counsaile to proue rather and declare what ye are able to do agaynst your Lord and prince, and to practise agaynst hym and all his, the vttermost of your power & authoritie: which power and authoritie of yours (to hym that offendeth) is fearefull: and to hym that will not amend, terrible. Such counsell as this, some peraduenture will whisper in your eare. But to these agayne, this we say and aunswer for our king, whom notwithstandyng to be without fault, we do not affirme: But yet alwayes that he is redy to amend and make satisfaction, that we speake confidently and protest in his behalfe.

The kyng (appoynted for the Lordes annoynted) prouideth for the peace of his subiectes all that he is able: and therefore, to the intent he may conserue this peace in hys Churches and amongest his subiectes committed to him: he willeth and requireth such ordinaunces due to kinges, and exhibited to them before tyme, also to be exhibited to hym. MarginaliaThe commēdation of kyng Henry 2 for hys meeknes and moderation.Wherin, if there hath any contradiction sprong betwixt him and vs, he (beyng therupon conuented and admonished frō the pope by the reuerend Bishops of London & Herford) brast not out in any defiance: but mekely and humbly aunswered, that wherin so euer the church or any ecclesiasticall person can shew hymselfe greued, he would therin stand to the iudgement of the church of hys kingdome. Whiche also, he is ready no lesse to perfourme in deede: thinking nothyng more sweete vnto hym then to be admonished of hys fault (if he haue offended the Lord) and to reforme the same: & not onely to reforme and to amend hys fault, but also to satisfie it to the vttermost, if the law shall so require hym. Wherfore, seyng he is so willyng to recompense and satisfie the iudgement of the church in all thyngs appertainyng to þ^e church: refusing no order that shalbe takē, but in all things submitting hys necke to the yoke of Christ: with what right, by what canon, or reason can you interdict hym, or vse excommunication against him? It is a thyng laudable and a ver-tue of great commendation in wise men: wisely to go with iudgement and reason, and not to be caried with puffes of hasty violence. Wherupon this is the onely and commō petition of vs all: that your fatherly care will diligently prouide for your flocke and shepe committed to you: so þ^t they miscary not, or run to any ruine through any inconsiderate or to much heady counsell in you: but rather through your softnes and sufferaunce, they may obtaine life, peace and security. It doth moue vs all, that we heare of late to be done by you against the B. of Salisbury, and the deane of þ^e same Church (prosperously) as some men suppose: against whō you haue geuen out the sentence of excommunication and condemnation, before any question of their crime was: followyng therin (as it semeth) more the heat of hastines, thē the path of rightuousnes. This is a new order of iudgemēt (vnhard of yet to this day in our lawes and canons) first to condemne a man, and then to enquire after of the fact committed. Which order, least ye should hereafter attempt to exercise in lyke maner against our soueraigne and king: or against vs and our churches and parishes committed to vs, to the detriment of the pope and the holy church of Rome, and to the no little confusion of vs all: therfore we lay here against you for our selues, the remedy of appellation. And as before, openly in the publike face of the church with liuely voyce we appealed to the Pope for feare of certaine perils that might haue happened: So now againe in writyng we appeale to the same: assigning the terme of our appellation, the day of the Lordes Ascention. Most humblye and reuerently beseching your goodnesse, that you (taking a better way with you in this matter) will let your cause fall: sparing herein both the labours and charges as well of your selfe, as ours also. And thus we wish you right well to fare (reuerend) in the Lord.

FRaternitatis vestræ scriptum, (quod tamen prudētiæ vestræ communi consilio non facile credimus emanasse) nuper ex insperato suscepimus. &c.

Your brotherly letters sent (albeit not by the whole assent of your wisedomes writen, as I suppose) of late I receyued vpon a sodayne: the contentes wherof seeme to conteyne more sharpenes then solace. And would to God they proceded more of sincere zeale, of godlines, or affection of charity: then of disobedience or froward wilfulnes. For charity seketh not the thynges that be hys own, but which appertayne to Iesus Christ. It had bene your deutie (if there be truth in the Gospell, as most vndoubtedly ther is) & if you would faythfully haue accōplished his busines, whose person you represent: rather to haue feared hym, which can cast both body and soule to hell: then him, whose power extendeth no further then to the body. Rather to haue obeyed God then man: Rather your father, then your maister or Lord: after the example of hym who was to his father obedient vnto the death. Which dyed for vs, leauyng vs example to follow hys steps. MarginaliaScripture in wordes rightly alledged but falsely applied.Let vs dye therfore wyth hym, and lay downe our lyues for the deliuerance of hys church out of the yoke of bondage and tribulation of the oppressor: which church he hath founded, and whose libertie he hath procured, with hys owne proper bloud: Least if we shall do otherwise it may happely fall vpon vs, which is written in the Gospell: Who so loueth hys owne lyfe more then me, is not worthy of me. This ye ought to know, that if it be right which your captaine commaundeth: your duety requireth to obey his will: if not, ye ought then, rather to obey God then men.MarginaliaI deny your Minor, M. Becket.

One thyng I will say (if I may be so bold to tel it vnto you) I haue now suffred & abstayned a long space, waiting if the Lord had geuen you to take a better harte vnto you, which haue turned away cowardly your backes in the day of battaile: or if any of you would haue returned again to stand lyke a wall for the house of Israell: at least if he had but shewed hymself in the field makyng but the countenāce of a warrier agaynst them, which cease not daily to infest þ^e Lambe of God. I wayted and none came: I suffered, and none rose vp: I held my peace and none would speake: I dissembled and none would stand with me in lyke semblāce. Wherfore, seyng I see no better towardnes in you: this remaineth onely, to enter action of complaint against you, and to cry against myne enemies. Rise vp (O Lord) and iudge my cause, reuenge the bloud of the church which is wasted