M. Harding.M. Hardinge.

M. Harding.

M. Hardinge.

Concerning that ye say of King Philip surnamed Le Bel, if we may believe Paulus Aemylius the best writer of the French Chronicles, the cause was such between Pope Bonifacius, and that King, that if he did not only excommunicate him, but also offered gift of his Kingdom to Albert the Emperor, as Platina your Author herein writeth: he may seem therein to have done ^*not altogether so evil, as ye pretend. For, as both Aemilius and Platine do witness, the cause of their falling out was, that whereas the Pope being first sued unto by Cassanus a Christian Prince, and a great Conqueror in the East, to join with him for the recovery of the Holy land, sent the Bishop of Apamea to the French King for his necessary aide in that so common a quarrel of all Christendom: he being offended, either that the suit was not first made to him, either for that the said Bishop had done his Ambassade with she we of more Authority, then the King thought it became him. or upon some other private grudge, did not only utterly refuse to send any help toward the voyage, but also contemptuously, beside common order, and cruelly, committed the Popes Legate to Prison, and there kept him, until such time, as through the Popes interdict, the King was compelled to set him at liberty. Now of giving away his Kingdom, this chief French Historiographer maketh no mention. And if the Pope so did, why may he not seem to have done it^‡ rather to fear him, and to reclaim his mind from disobedience? Verily Platina writing it, declareth, how before the Pope proceeded to that extremity, the French King did what in him lay,^* to withdraw the people of France from the obedience of the Church and See Apostolic.

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 Albert the Emperour, as Platina your Authour herein writeth: he maie seeme therein to haue done