BECKET, pretended danger, and withdrawn himself out of the country; Abp. Cant. whereas, in truth, he neither was outraged nor threatened; but, as the Scripture speaks, "The wicked flies when no man pursues." This speech was seconded by the archbishop of York and the bishop of Exeter, but with somewhat less satire in the expression. Chron. Gervas. ib. Ibid. The earl of Arundel, though he confessed himself not scholar enough to understand what the bishops delivered, yet perceiving by the countenances of the conclave, the rugged manner was not relished, delivered himself in English with more smoothness and address. He endeavoured to bring the pope to his point, by owning his supremacy to the height: he suggested that the king had sent the first quality of the kingdom to wait upon him. From thence he proceeds to put him gently in mind of the favours his holiness had received from his master, and how firm he continued to his interest: and then, touching upon archbishop Becket, he owned him to be a person of capacity and conduct, and well qualified for his station: however, in the opinion of some people, he was thought to insist too much upon niceties he entreated his holiness, therefore, to take the matter into consideration, and pitch upon some expedient to put an end to this unhappy misunderstanding.. The earl was very much commended by the audience for the temper of his harangue: and the pope told him, that since they desired his legates might decide the matter, he would take care to send them. The bishop of London was extremely pleased to hear this; and after a very low reverence, asked the pope with what powers the legates were to be furnished. His holiness replied, he would give them a sufficient latitude in their instructions. "But," says the bishop of London," we desire they may be empowered to decide the matter without any farther appeal." "No," says the refuses to send legates pope," that privilege is my glory, which I will not give to anwith powers other: whenever that archbishop is brought upon his trial, for a final it shall be before me; for it would be strangely unreasonable to order him back to England, for his enemies to pronounce sentence upon him." The pope decision. The pope likewise told the ambassadors, he expected the archbishop in a few days, and desired them to stay, for that II. nothing could fairly be determined till he was heard: but HENRY the ambassadors replied, their time set them by the king K. of Eng. was up, and so took leave. Ibid. upon the Soon after, archbishop Becket came from St. Bertin in Flanders, to Soissons. Here Lewis, king of France, paid him a visit, offered him his protection, and a maintenance for him and his retinue out of the exchequer. The arch- The archbishop waits bishop returned his majesty thanks, but did not make use of the pension. From Soissons he went to Sens, and was pope at Sens and resigns very honourably received by the pope. And here, falling the archbishoprick. down at his holiness's feet, he delivered him a copy of the Constitutions of Clarendon, which being read in a full audience, the pope annuled part of them, as has been observed already, and, as Hoveden relates, excommunicated all those that should maintain them. : Hoveden, Afterwards, at a private audience, the archbishop con- 284. fessed to the pope and cardinals, that his election to the see of Canterbury was not altogether canonical, but overruled by the secular magistrate: therefore, having reason to apprehend the issue would prove unprosperous, and not finding his strength proportioned to the employment, he thought it most advisable to resign: and upon this he took off his ring, and put it into the pope's hands. After this, the archbishop withdrew, and left the pope and cardinals to consult upon the point. Some of the conclave were pleased with this resignation; thought they had now a fair opportunity of giving the king satisfaction, by putting a more acceptable person in the church of Canterbury and as for archbishop Becket, it would be no difficult matter to make provision for him another way. But others were of a quite different sentiment. They argued that archbishop Becket had ventured his life and fortune, and run the utmost hazards in defence of his spiritual authority; that this decision would be a case of precedent; that if the archbishop sunk in the contest, the rest of the bishops of the Catholic Church would sink with him, the regale carry all before it, and the pope's power dwindle, and be lost. It was therefore highly expedient to restore this prelate to his post, though against his inclination, and to stand by him who had entered the lists in behalf of the whole Church. This opinion prevailing, the The pope archbishop of Canterbury was called in, and restored to his to his cha VOL. II. U restores him racter. BECKET, charge by the pope, who promised to abet his interest and take care of him. Abp. Cant. Chronic. Gervas. col. From hence the archbishop removed to Pontiniac, an 1397, 1398. abbey in Burgundy, where he continued almost two years, and spent his time in religious exercises. See Re cords, num. 23. Quadrilog. 1. 4. Hoveden et Chron. Ger vas. The king banishes lations. 359. The king being obstructed in the business of the embassy, both by the pope and the French king, grew very angry, ordered the revenues of the archbishoprick to be seized, and that if any clerk or layman appealed to the court of Rome, he should be taken into custody till the king's pleasure was farther known. This order is reckoned by Quadrilogus and Hoveden to the year 1166, though Gervase of Canterbury mentions it a year sooner. The king likewise banished the relations of the archbishop with great rigour, sparing neither age nor sex; for archbishop Becket's re- children in the cradle, and women in childbed, fell under the sentence and were hurried over sea. Those who were men and women were obliged to make oath that they would travel directly to Pontiniac, and shew themselves to the archbishop. This was done to put a new sting into his misfortunes, by making him sensible how many persons were undone upon his account. There was likewise an order published in England, to forbid all persons corresponding with him by letters, making him any presents, or so much Chron. Ger- as praying for him in the Church. vas. Orders sent observed in England. Some time before this, as Hoveden reports, the king by the king arrived in Normandy, where he had several constitutions out of Normandy to be drawn up and published against pope Alexander and Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury. These constitutions were sent into England to the king's justices, Richard de Lucy, Geoffrey Ridel, archdeacon of Canterbury, and Richard de Ivelcestre, archdeacon of Poictiers, with a command that both themselves and all the great men and commonalty of the kingdom should swear to keep them. The articles are these: 1. "If any person shall be taken with the pope's letters about him, or any order from the archbishop of Canterbury, importing an interdict, let him be seized, and immediately tried and punished, as a traitor against the king and kingdom. 2. "No clerk or monk shall be permitted either to go out II. of England or return, without a passport from the judges at HENRY his going out, and the king's licence for his coming back. K. of Eng. And if any person shall be found to act contrary to this order, he shall be seized and imprisoned. 3. "It shall not be lawful for any person to appeal to the pope or the archbishop. 4. "No plea shall be held by virtue of any order from the pope or the archbishop, neither shall their mandate be received by any person in England, under the penalty of imprisonment. 5. "No person shall be allowed to carry any message from either clerk or layman to the pope or the archbishop; he that presumes to do so shall be seized and imprisoned, 6. "If any bishops, clerks, abbots, or laymen, shall obey any interdict, they and all their relations shall be immediately banished the kingdom; neither shall they be allowed to carry any of their goods and chattels along with them. 7. "That the estates, goods, and chattels of those who adhere to the pope and the archbishop, of what degree, sex, or condition soever, shall be forfeited. 8. "That clerks having revenues in England, and living beyond sea, shall be summoned to return into England within three months; and in case they do not come over within the time appointed, their estates shall be seized to the king's use. 9. "That the Peter-pence shall be no longer returned to the pope, but paid into the exchequer, and disposed of as the king shall think fit. 10. "That the bishops of London and Norwich shall be summoned by the sheriffs to appear before the judges, and fined at the king's pleasure for breaking the Constitutions of Clarendon, by interdicting the lordships of Hugh, earl of Norfolk, in pursuance of an order from the pope, and by Quadrilog. publishing the pope's excommunication against the said Hoveden, Hugh, without leave from the king's justices. 1. 5. Annal. fol. 284. Becket's letter to the Not long after this, archbishop Becket wrote to the king, Archbishop then at Chinon in Touraine : in the beginning of the letter he puts him in mind how faithfully he had served him in his king. chancellorship; that he looked upon the king in a double capacity, both as his sovereign and his spiritual son; that as he was his sovereign, he was obliged to pay him a pro A grand mistake. BECKET, found regard, and offer him his best advice. And as he Abp. Cant. was his spiritual son, that relation obliged him to the exercise of discipline, when occasion required. Afterwards he proceeds to suggest, that the Church of God consisted of two orders, the clergy and the laity. That the government of the Church is intrusted to the first: thus the commission runs to St. Peter, and under his name to the rest of the bishops, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." In the division of the laity, kings, dukes, and other distinctions of magistracy and jurisdiction are to be reckoned. To these the management of secular affairs is committed, for the benefit of the community. "Now, since it is certain, with all respect to your highness," says the archbishop, "that kings receive their authority from the Church, and not the Church hers from them, but from our Saviour; for this reason, your highness ought not to direct the censures of the Church; to command the bishops to absolve or excommunicate; to force the clergy to make their appearance in secular courts, to take cognizance of pleas concerning tithes and the rights of churches; to forbid the bishops exercising their jurisdiction against perjury and breach of faith; not to mention several other things of this nature which make part of the ancient customs, as your highness is pleased to call them." And after citing some texts of Scripture against unrighteous laws and oppressing the poor in judgment, he goes on and desires the king to hearken to the advice of his liege subject, the admonition of his bishop, and the correction of his spiritual father, and not maintain any correspondence with schismaticks. "It is well known," says he," with what regard you have treated the pope, and what suitable returns his holiness has made your highness. I entreat you, therefore, as you tender the interest of your own soul, not to lessen the privileges of the Church of Rome, but permit her the same liberty in your kingdoms as she enjoys in other parts of Christendom. And that your highness would please to remember the declaration you made upon the altar at Westminster at your coronation, and that there you solemnly promised to protect the Church of God in all her rights and privileges. I farther entreat your highness would restore the church of Canterbury to that 360. |