A catalogue of the bishops of England, since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with a briefe history of their liues and memorable actions, so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity. By F.G. subdeane of Exceter.

38. Thomas Becket.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Conquest neuer any English man obtained [ 1161] this Archbishopricke before Thomas Becket. He was borne in London, his fathers name was Giltert a Mer∣chant, his mother was a stranger borne in Syria. He was first taught and brought vp during the time of his childhood by the Prior of Merton, and seeming towardly, was sent to the Uniuersity of Paris: Hauing there attained some more lear∣ning and also the knowledge of the French tongue, he retur∣ned and became an officer in some Court about London, it is said he was a Justice: But waring soone weary of that kind os life, he found meanes to get into the seruice of Theobald the Archbishop, who quickly espiyng his manifold good parts, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him entierly and sent him into Italy to study the Ca∣non Lawe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there might be any thing wanting in him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a common-wealthes-man, for the managing whereof he discerned him then very fit and likely. Upon his returne thence, he was quickly preferred by the Archbishop vnto the Archdeaconry of Canterbury the Prouostship of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the personage of Bromfield. The Archbishop then séeing him selfe weake and sickly, which made him al∣together vnable to looke throughly into the drifts and deuices of Courtyers (that in all ages seeke to pray vpon the Church and euer néede some watchfull eye to ouerlooke their practi∣ses) commended Thomas Becket vnto the King so effectually, as he was content first to receiue him into the number of his Chapleines, then made him Chauncellor of England, and loaded him with all kind of spirituall preferment. For The∣obald being a wise man, well perceiued Becket to be first so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so painefull and industrious, as the King being yet yoong, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 surely possesse him altogether & be able to withstand any endeuours that might be preiudiciall vnto the Church; And againe he could not doubt either of his faithfulnesse to him, or his stoutnesse in so good a cause, of which both he had had long experience. In regard hereof, he imployed all his indeuours to plant a perfect liking of Thomas Becket in the mind of the King; wherein he prospe∣red

so well, as in a short time no man was so farre in the Kings bookes as he, nay no man could doo any thing in a ma∣ner with the King but he. For the maintaining of this his credit (saith one) he thought it good to relinquish and forsake by little and little all Priestly either behauior or attyre, to af∣fect the pompe and brauery of the Court, to liue as other Courtyers, to fare daintily, to ly long in bed, to hawke, to hunt, to haue many followers, &c. in so much as some sticked not to say, the Chauncellor had forgotten he was an Arch∣deacon also, and blamed him for not liuing like a Clergy man. But by this meanes (saith he) T. Becket was euer at the Kings elbow, was partaker of all his counsels, and either by notize giuen to the Archbishop, or some deuice of his owne otherwise, could and did stop any courses that might be preiudiciall to the Church. Hauing continued thus in the of∣fice of Chauncellor foure or fiue yéeres with the great fauour and liking of the King; it hapened Theobald the Archbishop to dye: The king little thinking what a snake he nourished in his bosome, determined by & by to doo his vtmost indeuor for the aduauncement of him (T. Becket) vnto the Archbi∣shoppricke. Being therefore at that time in Normandy, he sent Richard Lucy a counsellor of speciall trust into England with charge to effect these two things; first to procure all the Nobles and best of the comminalty to sweare fealty vnto yoong Prince Henry his sonne; and then to cause the Monkes of Canterbury to elect Thomas his Chauncellor Archbishop. The first he quickly brought to passe (the rather by the helpe of the Chauncellor that was ioined in commission with him) And in the second also he bestirred him selfe so well, as he cau∣sed the whole conuocation of the Clergy (a wost authenticall kind of election) to choose Thomas Becket for their Archbishop no one man gainesaying it except Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London. He was consecrate Archbishop vpon Whitsonday (being made Priest but iust the day before) by the Bishop of Wintchester. ann. 1162. being not yet full 44. yéeres of age. Presently after his consecration, he altered all the whole course of his life; became so graue, so austere and so deuout in all outward shewe, as he séemed quite another man. Also he resigned his Chauncellorship, certifiyng the King by letters

(who was then in Normandy) he could not serue the Church and the Court both at once. The King that euer hitherto thought to vse Thomas Becket as a schoole master to instruct and inure his sonne in matters of state and policy; was now very sory that he had made him Archbishop, séeing he threw off all care of temporall gouernment; and considering the hawtinesse of his spirits, sore doubted wherunto this strange dealing would growe at the last. Another thing the King greatly disliked in him was this; that being yet scarcely warme in his seate, he began to looke so narrowly into the state of the land belonging to his sée, and to challenge with∣all extremity whatsouer might séeme to pertaine vnto him, as he prouoked many of all sorts of people against him, who euery where exclaimed with open mouth and made their complaints thicke and thréefold vnto the King, saying that hauing some authority and more knowledge in the Lawe, vnder colour of defending the rights of his Church, he tooke violently from euery man what he list. But the maine quar∣rell betwixt the King and him was this: The Cleargy of those times bare them selues so bold vpon the priuileges of the Church, whereby, in crymes neuer so haynous they clay∣med to be exempted from the iudgement of temporall courts; as, dayly infinite outrages were committed by Cleargy men, murthers, robberies, rapes, &c. which temporall Judges might not meddle withall, and in the spirituall courtes they were either not punished, or for the most part very lightly. For the amendment and preuention of this inconuenience in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to come, the King intended to publish a certaine decla∣ration of the customes of England, set downe long since by King Henry the first his grandfather, wherein this intollera∣ble and licencious liberty of the Cleargy was somewhat re∣strained. And that it might not be spurned at by any (the Arch∣bishop especially he doubted:) he deuised to send this declara∣cion vnto the Pope and to craue his allowance of the same. But the Archbishop hauing some inkling of the Kings intent before hand, had so dealt with the Pope, as it was no sooner séene but it was streight reiected. Herewith the King was so incensed, as after that time he bent himselfe altogether to the diminishing and breaking of all immunities and liberties of

the church. And the Archbishop was so farre from séeking to pacifie the Kings displeasure, as daily he prouoked him more and more. The particularities thereof to passe ouer, the King thought good to try whether he could put in execution the contents of the foresaid declaration euen in despite of the Archbishop or no. He offered the same vnto all the Clergy gathered togither in a synode; who as if they had learned all one lesson, told the King seuerally in the same words, that they were content to allow it, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ordine 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so farre foorth as they might without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their owne coat and cal∣ling: Onely one man Hilary Bishop of Chichester was con∣tent to yéeld vnto it simpliciter and without condition, but was so bayted and reuiled for his labour, as it is like he often repented it. Yet so the matter was handled not long after, as first diuers other Bishops were content to yeeld vnto the King in this demaund, and at last euen the Archbishop him∣selfe with all his followers. So at a time appointed they met at Clarindon, and theresware vnto the obseruation of the ar∣ticles comprised in that declaration. This notwithstanding, soone after they disliking that they had done, got the Pope to assoile them of this oath. But the Archbishop now well assu∣ring himselfe he had so offended the king, as there was no abiding for him heere, he tooke ship at Kumney, intending to auoid the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but missed of his purpose, for he was forced by a contrarie winde to returne to land againe. Presently vpon his arriuall he was apprehended and carried prisoner to Northampton (where the king then held a Councell) and was there accused of extortion, periury, treason, forgery, and many other crimes. His owne suffragan Bishops, though he had appealed vnto the Pope, gaue sentence against him, and warranted the king they would make proofe of these ac∣cusations vnto the Pope. The next night after his condem∣nation, he scaped away and once more hasted vnto the sea, committed himselfe very desperately vnto a little bad rotten fisher boat, and accompanied onely with three seruitors cros∣sedthe sea, and got into the low Countries, and thence posted to the Pope at Senon, who placed him in the monastery of Pontiniac. While he there rested himselfe, he thundred out excommunications apace against all such as did obserue

the articles contayned in the declaration set foorth at Clarin∣don, whereunto himselfe had once sworne. The King as fast bestird himselfe in seasing all the goods and temporalties of the Archbishop into his hand. He sent also ambassadors vnto the Earle of Flaunders, the French King and the Pope pray∣ing them in no wise to foster or suffer him in their dominions, requesting moreouer of the Pope, that he would confirme and allow of the declaration published at Clarindon. The Pope made an answere (though friuolous) saying he would consider of the matter. But the French (with whom the King of England had amity and a league of friendship at that time) he thinking that this agreement betweene him and the Archbishop would bréed some stirre in England, presently fell to inuading the King of Englands dominions & tooke by as∣sault certaine holds of his in Normandy. The Archbishop also about the same time sent out particular excommunicati∣ons against all the suffragan Bishops of his Prouince. The King mightily offended with this excéeding boldnesse of the Archbishop, whereunto he well knew he was hartned and animated by the Pope and the French King: bethough him∣selfe how by all meanes possible he might vere and grieue him: First, because he knew he delighted much in the mona∣stery of Pontiniac (which was an Abbey of Cistercian monkes) he signified to all the monkes of that order in his do∣minions, that he would banish them euery one, if they would not procure the Archbishop to be thrust out of that monastery, which for feare of so great calamity to so many men was ef∣fected. Then he also droue out of the realme, all his kinsfolks, friends and professed welwillers of whom he suspected him to be any way aided or comforted. Alexander the Pope Thomas Beckets surest card, was ferited in much like sort the same time by Friderike 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Emperor, as he himselfe was. The King therefore by the counsell of Gilbert Bishop of London determined to ioyns in league with the Emperor, (if possibly he might) that was a professed enimy both to the French King and the Pope. To this purpose he sent two am∣bassadors vnto him, perswading him to deals with the Car∣dinals (Lucius the Antipope being then lately dead) to set vp another in his roome, to whom he promised all his dominions

should yéelde obedience. The Pope hauing notize of this prac∣tise, began presentlyto quaile, sent the King word he would order all things betwéene the Archbishop and him to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 liking and that out of hand. Now it had hapened a little be∣fore, that the Pope had graunted vnto the Archbishop a very large licence of excommunicating whom he list in England; the King the Queene and a very few other excepted. This authority he abused very intemperately at that time when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 matters were thus in hammering betwéene the Pope and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King, in so much as he had marred all if the Pope had not spéedly yeelded a reason thereof to the King. By this time the French King (the Popes onely Protector against the Emperor) began to spy that he was much more cold in the defence of the Archbishop then he had beene and reprehended him sharply for it. The Pope therefore not knowing which way to turne him selfe; for the satisfiyng of both these potentates, (neither of which he could safcly offend as things stoode) he determined first to labour a reconciliation betweene them, and then to make the French King a media∣tor for the Archbishop. This he effected, and brought the two Kings together at Paris. Thither also came Thomas Becket: And sute being made vnto the King in his behalfe, that he might returne, be restored to his goods and reuenues arising in the time of his absence and lastly (vpon his humble sub∣mission) to the Kings fauour; The King answered, that for the rest he was contented, but (faith he) the profites of his Archbishopricke since his banishment I can not allow him, for that I haue already giuen them to others: Mary recom∣pence I will make him for them to the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 of the French King or the Senate of Paris or else of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Uniuersity. Presently the Archbishop was called for, who falling downe vpon his knees, vsed these words, My Lord and soueraigne, I doo here commit vnto your owne iudge∣ment the cause and controuersie betwéene vs, so farre foorth as I may, sauing the honor of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God. The King much offended with that last exception (〈◊〉〈◊〉 honore Dei) turned him about vnto the French King and telling him how much he had doone for the Archbishop, and how he had vsed him, I am (quoth he at last) so well acquainted with the tricks

of this fellow, that I can not hope for any good dealing at his hands. Sée you not how he goeth about to delude me with this clause (sauing the honor of God?) For whatsoeuer shall displease him, he will by and by alleage to be preiudiciall to the honor of Almighty God. But this I will say vnto you, whereas there haue béene Kings of England many before me, whereof some were peraduenture of greater power than I, the most part farre lesse; and againe many Archbishops before this man holy and notable men: Looke what duty was euer perfourmed by the greatest Archbishop that euer was to the weakest and simplest of my predecessours, let him yéeld me but that and it shall abundantly content me. Hereunto the Archbishop answered cunningly and stoutly ynough, that the times were altered, his predecessors which could not bring all things to passe at the first dash were content to beare with many things, and that as men they fell and omitted their du∣ty oftentimes; that which the Church had gotten, was by the constancy of good Prelates, whose example he would follow thus farre foorth, as though he could not augment the priui∣leges of the Church in his time, yet he would neuer consent they should be diminished. This answeare being heard, all men cryed shame vpon him and generally imputed the fault of these sturs vnto him. But this was the issue for that time, that they parted without reconciliation. The King doub∣ting what might come of these broiles, caused his sonne Hen∣ry (that died soone after) to be crowned King in his owne life time, so to assure him of the succession. Afterwards comming into Fraunce againe, they were vpon the point of reconci∣liation when the casting out of some such word or another as before, marred all. At length, the King and he were made friends, but his full restitution deferred till he had behaued himselfe quietly a while at Canterbury, which he promised to doo. But he, was so farre from perfourming that promise, as he sent into England before him diuers excommunicati∣ons which the Pope had graunted out long before, and com∣mitted to his discretion. Amongst other, the Archbishop of Yorke, the Bishop of London and Salisbury were named in them, together with so many as had béene dooers in the coro∣nation of the yoong King, which the Archbishop said might

not be performed of any but by his appointment. The men thus strucken with this holy fire, hasted them ouer into Nor∣mandy to make their complaint vnto the king, who infi∣nitely grieued at this kinde of dealing, cursed the time that euer he made him Archbishop, or restored him to his place againe, adding, it was his chaunce euer to do for vnthanke∣full men, otherwise some or other would long ere this haue made this proud priest an example to all such troublesome perturbers of his realme and state. It happened amongst other, fower knights to be present at this spéech of the kings, who gathered thereby, they should do a deed very acceptable vnto him if they killed the Archbishop. Their names were Reynald Fitz-Vrse, Hugh de Mortuill, William de Tracy, and Richard Briton. In this meane time the Archbishop was come to Canterbury, and was receiued there with great ioy. Thence he went to London and so to Woodstocke where the yoong king then lay. But before he could get to the kings presence, word was brought him, the kings pleasure was he should first go to Canterbury and reuoke those excommuni∣cations before he the king would talke with him. So he re∣turned againe to Canterbury without seeing the king at all. Soone after his returne thither, the fower knights before mentioned arriued at Canterbury, to wit vpon Innocents day. They comming vnto the Archbishop, told him the kings pleasure was, he should goe to his sonne and reuerently make offer of doing homage and fealty vnto him, for the Barony of his Archbishopricke: secondly, that he should cause all the strangers he brought into the realme with him to be sworne to his obedience; and thirdly, that he should retrcat those ex∣communications which he had caused to be denounced a∣gainst the instruments of the yoong kings coronation. To this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he answered, that neither the king nor any other mortall man should extort from him, or any of his by his consent, any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or vnreasonable othe. And as for the Bishops and other excommunicate concerning the corona∣tion, it was indeede (quoth) he a thing done in my behalfe and for an iniury offred to my church; But it was the Act of the Pope. If therefore they will sweare they shall be ready to make me amends at the Popes discretion, I will absolue

them, otherwise not. And whatsoeuer you say, it was the kings pleasure, I should take my best course for the redresse of this abuse by ecclestasticall authority. Many other words passed betwéene them the same time, they breathing out terrible threats, and he continuing still the same man with∣out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one iotte. At last the knights departed, giuing the monkes charge in the kings name, to see the Archbishop foorth comming, and not to suffer him to escape away. At euening prayer time the same day, they came suddenly into the church, with their swords drawen, crying, Wheres the Traytor, Wheres the Traytor: The Archbishop who was then going vp the steps toward the quire, hearing the noyse, turned backe vnto them, and euery one of the fower striking mainely at him, vpon the third or fourth greice of those stops was slaine. His body these knights had determined to haue cast into the sea, or else to haue hewen into a thousand pieces: but the Prior and the monkes doubting some such thing, bu∣ried it immediately in the vndercraft, whence shortly it was taken vp and laid in a most sumptuous shrine in the East end of the church. The Pope hearing of this massacre, excom∣municated immediately all that were either authors or con∣senters to the same. The king was faine to purge himselfe by othe, and yet could not be absolued before he had done certaine strange penance as first, that he should pray deuout∣ly at the tombe of this new Martyr, that he should be whipt in the chapter house, receiuing of euery monke one lash, that he should maintaine 200. soldiers for the space of one yeere at Jerusalem, & lastly reuoke the declaration published at Cla∣rindon, that originally gaue the occasion of this murther. All this (such were those times) the king was faine to performe.