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CHAP. XIV.
The Pope absolves Thoms a Becket from his Oath, and damns the Laws of Clarendon. The King resents it, writes to his She∣riffs, Orders a Scisure. Penalties inflicted on Kindred. He provides against an Interdict from Rome. He summons the Bi∣shops of London and Norwich. An Account of Peter Pence.
TO the Laws of Clarendon, which I spoke of, the States of the King∣dom (the Baronage) and with them the Arch-Bishop of Canterbu∣ry, took their Oaths in solemn manner, calling upon God. There were Embassadors sent to Pope Alexander the third, that there might be that bottom also, that he would further confirm and ratifie them. But he was so far from doing that, that he did not only pretend that they did too much derogate from the priviledge of the Clergy, and wholly refuse to give his assent to them; but also having absolved Thomas the Arch-Bishop, at his own request, from the obligation of that Oath he had bound himself with, he condemned them as impious, and such as made against the interest and honour of holy Church. King Henry, as soon as he heard of it, took it, as it was fit he should, very much in dudgeon; grievously and most deservedly storming at the insolence of the Roman Court, and the Treachery of the Bishop of Canterbury. Immediately Letters were dispatcht to the several Sheriffs of the respective Counties,
That if any Clerk or Layman in their Bayliwicks, should appeal to the Court of Rome, they should seise him and take him into firm custody; till the King give order what his pleasure is: And that they should seise into the Kings hand, and for his use, all the Revenues and Possessions of the Arch-Bishops Clerks; and of all the Clerks that are with the Arch-Bishop; they should put by way of safe pledge the Fathers, Mothers, and Sisters, Nephews and Neeces, and their Chattels, till the King give order what his pleasure is.I have told the Story out of Matthew Paris.
You see in this instance a penalty, where there is no fault: It affects or reaches to their Kindred both by Marriage and Blood? a thing not un∣usual in the declension of the Roman Empire after Angust••••s his time. But let misdemeanors hold or oblige those who are the Authors of them (was the Order of Arcali••s and Honorius,* 1.1 Emperors, to the Lord Chief Justice E••∣t••chianus) nor let the fear of punishment proceed further than the offence is found. A very usual right among the English, whereby bating the ta∣king away the Civil Rights of Blood and Nobility,* 1.2 none of the Posterity or Family of those who lose their honours, do for the most hainous crimes of their Parents, undergo any penalties.
But this was not all, in those Letters I mentioned, he added threats also.
63.
If any one shall be sound carrying Letters or a Mandate from the Pope, or Thomas, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, containing an interdiction of Christian Religion in England, let him be seised and kept in hold, and let Justice be done upon him without delay, as a Traitor against the King and Kingdom.This Roger of Hoveden stands by, ready to witness.