A01115:628
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Volume 1 › Book 4: The fourth book.Volume 1 › Book 4: The fourth booke.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
At this time, lived Thomas Becket: whose first preferment was to the Church of Branfield, which he had by the gift of Saint Albans. After that he entered into the service of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was put of Theobald the Archbishop to king Henry, to bridle the young king, that he should not be too fierce against the Clergy: of whom he was made Lord Chancellor, and afterward in the 44. ⟨p. 164⟩year of his age, was made priest, and the next day made bishop: afterward there fell great variance betwixt the king and him for overlightly punishing the Clerks that offended his laws:1 and standing with the king therein. Besides, he resisted divers ancient laws of the land, and would not submit himself or his Clergy thereunto: moreover, there were other laws also made at Claredoune,2 in Normandy, whereto Becket would give no allowance: as if any person should be found to bring from the Pope, or from the Archb. of Canterbury, any writing, containing a curse or indict of the land,3 he should be executed for a traitor, &c. That Peterpence should no more be paid. yet at the length he answered, he would agree to the Kings ordinances salvo ordine suo. 4Which clause, the king greatly misliked: but notwithstanding great entreat by the Bishop of Norwich, and Salisbury, and the tears of two of the chief of the Templars, called Richard de Hast, and Constans de Henerio, hee would not relent, till the king signified by express message,5 that he should look what to trust to, if he yielded not at his request: so at length he relented. And the king called a Council of States, where he requiring the Archb. to set to his seal to instruments drawn, concerning the matter, but he refused so to do, till farther deliberation, which also the king was contented with: & yet after Thomas repented him of that he had done, by the motion of his crossbearer, who put him in mind how prejudicial it was to the Church, that he had yielded unto. Whereupon he required absolution of the Pope for his fact, who granted the same, and gave him courage to be constant in his quarrel begun,