M. Hardinge.
Concerninge that ye saie of Kinge Philip surnamed Le Bel, if we maie beleue Paulus AEmylius the beste writer of the Frenche Chronicles, the cause was suche betwene Pope Bonifacius, and that Kinge, that if he did not onely excommunicate him, but also offered gifte of his Kingedome to Al∣bert the Emperour, as Platina your Authour herein writeth: he maie seeme therein to haue done * 1.1 not altogeather so euill, as ye pretende. For, as bothe AEmilius and Platine doo witnesse, the cause of their fallinge out was, that whereas the Pope being first sued vnto by Cassanus a Christian Prince, and a greate Conquerour in the Easte, to ioine with him for the recouery of the Holy lande, sente the Bishop of Apamea to the Frenche Kinge for his necessary aide in that so common a quarell of al Chri∣stendome: he beinge offended, either that the sute was not firste made to him, either for that the saide Bishop had done his Ambassade with she we of more Auctoritie, then the Kinge thought it became him. or vpon some other priuate grudge, did not onely vtterly refuse to sende any healpe towarde the voiage, but also contemptuously, beside common order, and cruelly, committed the Popes Legate to Prison, and there kepte him, vntill suche time, as through the Popes interdict, the Kinge was com∣pelled to set him at libertie. Nowe of geuinge awaie his Kingedome, this chiefe Frenche Histo∣riographer maketh no mention. And if the Pope so did, why maie he not seme to haue done it‡ 1.2 ra∣ther to feare him, and to reclaime his minde from disobedience? Verely Platina writinge it, decla∣reth, howe before the Pope proceded to that extremitie, the Frenche Kinge did what in him laie,* 1.3 to withdrawe the people of Fraunce from the obedience of the Churche and See Apostolike.