The Correspondence of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1162-1170 [2: Letters 176-329] 0198222653

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THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BECKET ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY 1162-1170

VOLUME II Letters

I 76-329

EDITED AND TRANSLATED BY

ANNEJ. DUGGAN

CLARENDON PRESS · OXFORD

OXFORD

CONTENTS

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Great Clarendon Street, Oxford oxz 6nP Oxford Unin·rsity Press is .1 department of the University of Oxford ~rnd lurrlwr:> the Univn..,1t) 's .1im of cxccllcncc in research, scholarship, and ed1u.:at1011 hy puhlishing: worlll\.\-idc in (hf(1rd New York \1l1cn,-. ·\uckl.md Ba1q.d-.ok Bogor.l Bomhay Hucnos :\ires Calcutta ( :a Ill' To\\ 11 ( .hn1nai I )ar t·s Sal;iarn I klhi Florence Hong- Kong Istanbul ~;1r,1thi 1\.11.il.1 l,umpur Madras /vlcllmurnc J\-lnico City rVlumbai :--.J,1irohi P,ll'i.., S.'w Paulo Slunghai Singapon: Taipei Tokyo Toronto Warsaw

and associated companil's in Bnlin Ibadan Oxford i:, a registered trade mark of Oxford L'niYcrsity Press

Published in the United States hy OxforJ University Press Inc., New York ~i, ine law strikes both the perpetrators and those who consent with .111 equal penalty. 5 Therefore by apostolic authority and our own we direct and , ommand you, dear sons, dean, archdeacons and those acting for .11d1deacons, by the virtue of obedience, under threat of excommu111c1t ion, and at the risk of your salvation and order, that unless the I, ,rd king corrects these transgressions with due satisfaction and 11 .,,,ores due peace with liberty and dignity to the Church before 1IH' Purification of St Mary,6 from that moment you are to cease I >1, ine Office and under the same threat utterly forbid its celebration 111 nery church everywhere throughout your diocese, except for the I ,.1 pt ism of infants and the reconciliation of the dying, and the \ 1;1 t icum, which may be consecrated behind closed doors with the l.111, excluded and without the ringing of bells and the solemnity of , li;int and joy, which the church is accustomed to employ in days of 1·L1dncss. Nor should you fear those who are meanwhile permitted by I1c I ,ord to afflict the bodies of the saints so that they may achieve the I, 111, crown of the elect, and can do nothing against their souls; for in l11s crucible God will clearly reveal whom he should crown in the I 111 urc life. But we have excommunicated those who accept churches, , , ( lcsiastical offices, or benefices from the hands of laymen, contrary 1,, 1 he canonical ordinances; those who compel clerks to disobedience 1,, penalty or fear; those who prevent the Lord Pope's messengers or 1111rs from attending to the Church's needs; those who teach that the I."' s of men should be put before Divine law and compel the 11·,11rpations or abuses of the powerful to be put before the traditions , ,1 1he Christian religion; and we have publicly excommunicated by 11.1111c: Archdeacon Geoffrey of Canterbury and his deputy, Robert, I{ whard of Ilchester, William Giffard, Nigel de Sackville, Richard de 7 I 11cy, Thomas FitzBernard, Adam of Charing. But if the English

,

1

1

CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BECKET

LETTER 258

subditorum penis excessus suos correxerit rex Anglorum, exindc persone eius, quod inuiti dicimus, in dispendium salutis nostre, sicut hactenus fecimus, auctore Deo, non parcemus. Nam miseratio talis impietas esse conuincitur, cum scriptum sit, quod qui uirgc parcit odit filium. 8 Ad hec, eadem auctoritate et sub eadem interminatione, precipimus ut Iohannem decanum Saresberiensem,' Widonemu decanum Waltham/ Iohannem Cumin, Radulfum Landauensem archidiaconum, Wimerum presbiterum alumpnum comitis Hugonis, a die Natiuitatis Dominice tanquam excommunicatos euitetis, nisi infra ecclesie Dei, quam leserunt, et nobis satisfactionem debitam curauerint exhibere. 9 Verbum Dei luceat in cordibus et operibus uestris, ut timorem Dei preferentes humano, rn uobis adquiratis coronam glorie, 11 et exemplum obedientie et fortitudinis feliciter transmittatis ad posteros.

k 111µ; does not correct his transgressions following the punishment of

1114

In eandem formam wclero et populom Lincolniensi. lin eandem formamx Yclero et populo)' Bathoniensi.z 12

2

his subordinates, reluctant as we are to say it, by God's will we shall thereafter spare his person at the risk of our own salvation, as we li.l\c so far done. For such compassion is proved to be undutiful, ·,111cc it is written that he who spares the rod hates the child. 8 In .1ddition, by the same authority and under the same threat, we , 1 ,mmand you to avoid as excommunicate from the day of the I .ord's Nativity, Dean John of Salisbury, Dean Guy of Waltham, lolm Cumin, Archdeacon Ralph of Llandaff, and the priest Wimer, loster-son of Earl Hugh, unless before then they take care to make d11c satisfaction to God's church, which they have injured, and to us. 9 \ lay God's word shine in your hearts and in your actions, so that you 111;1~· set the fear of God before human fear, 10 earn for yourselves a , rn.wn of glory, 11 and have the good fortune to hand on to later 1•1·11crations an example of obedience and fortitude. 1101

In the same form to the clergy and people of Lincoln. In the same form to the clergy and people of Bath. 12

59

2

(Thomas Cantuariensis archiepiscopus) Hugoni decano 1 et clero et populo Lundoniensis ecclesie

59

(Archbishop Thomas of Canterbury) to Dean Hugh 1 and the Clergy and People of the Church of London

after 18 November u69

after 18 November u69

"Thomas Dei gratia Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, et apostolice sedis legatus," Hugoni decano, archidiaconis, et toti clero et populo Lundoniensisb ecclesie, Christianam communionem habentibus, salutem, et Deo potius quam hominibus obedire. 2

liomas, by God's grace archbishop of Canterbury and legate of the ,stolic See, to Dean Hugh, the archdeacons, and all the clergy and 111oplc of the church of London who enjoy Christian communion, 1·11·l·ting, and obey God rather than men. 2

Vobis dilectissimi fratres non potest esse incognitum, quod et atrocitate criminis et temporis diuturnitate iam fere totum Latinum repleuit orbem. Taceantur ad presens quas uidistis et doluistis innocentiumc proscriptiones; sileatur bonorum ecclesie confiscatio inaudita; atrocitatem suppliciorum, concussionem pauperum, quc ' Saresberie a "' "' populo et clero BL BL

" Guidonem bcBL ' Walthaam a, Walth. BI, ' ·' et b ,, " populo et clero BL " Batoniensi

259 R, fos. 7or-7 u; V, fo. 106ra-b Heading: om. V, Thomas ... CantuariensisJ Idem R " " om. R h Londonien. V ' innocentum RV

1

\ 1H

11

I >carest brothers, you cannot be ignorant of the barbarous crime I11ch has for so long filled nearly the whole Latin world. Let the

, 1111 la wry of the innocent, which you have seen and lamented be silent I, ,1 the present; let the unheard-of confiscation of the Church's goods 111 ,1 speak; let mind and tongue conceal the cruelty of the torturers 9 ( J. Prov. 13: 24: see 96 n. 13. For this list, see 254 at n. 7. 11 '" ( J. Ecclus. 10: 25: see 254 n. 8. Cf. 1 Pet. 5: 4: see 145 n. 6. ' · 1·1ic bishoprics of Lincoln and Bath were also vacant: see 216 n. 8.

' ,,,

1

For Hugh de Mareni, dean of St Paul's, see 4 n.

2

above. This mandate was

,, I, I" ·,,cd to the dean and chapter because the bishop of London was excommunicate at 2 , I,, 11111c. Cf. Acts 5: 29: see 18 n. 4.

17

CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BECKET

LETTER 259

referri nequeunt, animus et lingua dissimulet; tantum publice libertatis et salutis nostre, qui Christi tarn patentes iniurias nimis diu siluimus, et exempli perniciem non curauimus, ut oportebat, delere, pariter defleamus. Luctus enim communis esse debet, ubi exhonoratur Dominus ac Redemptor et ludex omnium Christus; ubi libertas ecclesie perimitur; ubi publica salus in periculo est. Lugent ecclesie pastoribus destitute; sine sacramentorum plenitudine decedunt paruuli; ecclesiarum et uirginum consecratio cessat; non est in populis multis qui criminosos confitentes excipiat ad consolationem; non est qui publice penitentes absoluat ad ueniam; non est qui errantium delicta debita correctione redarguat; qui causas possit examinare et finire maiores; qui promoueat quos in necessitatibus suis desiderat ecclesia promoueri, nisi forte conductus quis alienus episcopus, aut coactus, lege Domini prohibente, fakem mittat in alienam messem. 3 Vbi uero maiores ecclesie pontifices suos habent, et in minoribus necessaria prouisa sunt subsidia sacerdotum, ab officiis suis publice potestatis edicto et uiolentia suspenduntur, cum in maiores personas, aut quantulumcunque beneficii aut officii ,1 domino rege habentes, eis curam pastoralem exercere non liceat, nisi uenia impetrata. Hee autem quantum diuinis obuient institutis, et uniuersorum saluti derogent, uerbis astruere superuacuum" est, cum res ipsa tardioribus etiam perspicua sit, ne dum uobis qui sensus habetis exercitatos in lege Domini. Plurima, ne simus onerosi, consulto reticemus, que quisquis fidelium non attendit, cecus est; qui non dolet, caret sensu, qui proficiat ad salutem. Oum commonitus est dominus noster rex per litteras, per nuntios, per episcopos, per abbates, per subdiaconos curie, per clarissimos cardinales, ut tam male presumpta corrigeret, plenum in multa amaritudine ecclesic dolentis et languentis effluxit quinquennium, et non est inuentus qui earn apud ipsum releuaret ex omnibus caris eius. 4 Quodquc magis dolendum est et stupendum (quod sine graui merore non recolimus aut dicimus) quidam de clarioribus episcopis infideks inuenti sunt, et arma iniquitatis, ope consilii auxilii et, persecutoribus contulerunt.

.111d the oppression of the poor, which they cannot mention; only let 11s who have kept silent for far too long about such obvious injustices .1g:1inst Christ and have not endeavoured to destroy the calamity of the precedent as we should, lament together the damage to the general I rnxlom and to our salvation. For there should be universal grief, "here our Lord and Redeemer, Christ, the Judge of all, is disl1t moured; where the Church's liberty is destroyed; where the general ·.. 1I,·ation is at risk. Churches are in mourning deprived of pastors; 1 liildren die without the fullness of the sacraments; the consecration 11ll'hurches and of virgins ceases; there is no one amid so many people "ho can receive and comfort those who confess their guilt; there is no , 111c to absolve public penitents and bring them pardon; there is no one 1,, reprove the misdeeds of those who go astray with appropriate , , ,rrcction; no one who can hear and conclude major cases; no one "ho can promote those whom the Church desires to be promoted to .n,e her needs, unless a bishop is brought in from outside or , 11111pelled to set his sickle to another's harvest/ in contravention of 1l1c I ,ord's law. But even where the major churches have their own I w,hops, and lesser churches are provided with necessary reserves of 111 wsts, they are suspended from their office by the edict and violence , ii the public power when they are not permitted to exercise cure of ., •11 ls over great men or those holding some kind of office or benefice I 1, ,111 the lord king without securing permission. Hut it is not necessary to waste many words on how far these 1, 1 ions oppose the Divine laws and derogate from universal salvation, l,11 the matter should be clear enough even to the slowest-witted, let il1111c to you whose understanding has been sharpened in the Lord's l.1\,. To avoid burdening you, we are deliberately holding back many 111111µ:s which a faithful man must be blind not to see; anyone who , I, ws not lament them must lack the understanding necessary for .. 1h:1tion. While our lord the king was warned by letters, envoys, I 11-,liops, abbots, curial subdeacons, and by the most distinguished , .11 dinals to put right what had been wrongfully presumed, a full five , , ., rs passed by in much bitterness for the suffering and enfeebled 4 1 l111rch, and no one was found among all her dear ones to bring her , , lwf' in his presence. And what must be more regretted and 11 , ,11dcred at, which we recall and speak with great sorrow, some of 1I 1, · more distinguished bishops have been found unfaithful, giving ,, , .,pons of iniquity to the persecutors, with the assistance of their 1q1port and counsel.

III6

d

superuacaneum R

3

Cf. Deut. 16: 9: see 207 n. 17.

4

Cf. Lam.

1: 2:

see 64 n.

2.

II

CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BECKET

LETTER 259

Si recolatis, dilectissimi, que in iniuriam Christi, et in depressionem ecclesie, nostramque et nostrorum contritionem, sub hac tempestate gesta sunt, iuste (ut credimus) mirabimini quod tarn patienti animo potuimus hec omnia tolerare; presertim cum a multo tempore (sicut multi nouerunt) plenam habuimus potestatem reprimendi et cohercendi persecutores nostros. Quorum tanta fuit inmanitas, ut antiqui mitius egerint in confessores Christi, quorum, si priscas reuoluatis historias, cognatos et amicos nequaquam ledebant, nisi ex publica confessione consortes haberentur et tituli. Q!.iia ergo nee diuturnitate patientie, nee multa humilitatis exhibitione, prefati domini nostri ira deferbuit, sed ab impunitate pertinacior et atrocior factus est, tantos excessus eius irrequisitos ulterius pretermittere non audemus. Nam dissimulatio culpe comparatur assensui, et facientes et consentientes pari pena lex diuina percellit. 5 lnde est quod uobis, dilecti filii/ decane, archidiaconi, et qui archidiaconorum geritis uices, in uirtute obedientie, 1;mb anathematc/ in periculo dignitatis, apostolica auctoritate et nostra precipiendo mandamus, quatinus, nisi sepedictus dominusg rex infra Purificationem beate Marie 6 memoratas enormitates debita satisfactione correxerit, et ecclesie debitam cum libertate et dignitate reddiderit pacem, ex tune prorsus cessetis a diuinis, et ea per totum episcopatum uestrum penitus in omnibus ecclesiis, eadem auctoritate et sub eadem interminatione, celebrari prohibeatis, excepto baptismo paruulorum, et penitentia, et uiatico, quod clausis ianuis, et laicis personis exclusis, confici licet sine campanarum pulsatione, et solempnitate cantus et leticie quam in diebus iocundis consueuit ecclesia exercere. Nech timeatis, et cetera. 7

If you recall, dearest brothers, what was done during this time to lie affront of Christ, to the depression of the Church, and the destruction of us and ours, we believe that you will rightly wonder 1 ltat we have been able to bear all of this with so patient a spirit, ,·..,pccially since we have had full power to curb and constrain our persecutors for a long time-as many knew. Their barbarity was such 1 ltat the ancients' treatment of the confessors of Christ seems mild in , , ,mparison: if you read the early histories, they never injured the 1datives and friends of Christ's confessors, unless they were recog1111.cd and named as collaborators by public confession. Therefore, ·.111cc our lord's anger has not cooled down either for the length of our p.11 icnce or the demonstration of great humility, but has been made 111orc sharp and cruel through lack of punishment, we dare not allow ·.,, many of his transgressions to pass unchallenged any longer. For 1 lw concealment of a fault is the same as assenting to it, and the I >i, ine law strikes both the perpetrators and those who consent with .111 equal penalty. 5 · I'hcrefore by apostolic authority and our own we direct and , 1 ,mmand you, dear sons, dean, archdeacons and those acting for .11chdcacons, by the virtue of obedience, under threat of excommu111cation, and at the risk of your salvation and order, that unless the 111 t mentioned lord king corrects these transgressions with due •• 1t is faction and restores due peace with liberty and dignity to the ( lturch before the Purification of St Mary, 6 from that moment you 11 (' to cease Divine Office and under the same threat utterly forbid its , c lehration in every church everywhere throughout your diocese, , , ccpt for the baptism of infants and the reconciliation of the dying, 11HI the Viaticum, which may be consecrated behind closed doors 11 1t h the laity excluded and without the ringing of bells and the .11lrnmity of chant and joy, which the church is accustomed to , 111ploy in days of gladness. Nor should you fear, etc. 7

1118

1

5

6

'fili V

II

om. V

·" om. R, noster add. V

h

Ne V

7

Cf. Gratian, D.86 c.3: see 82 n. 3. 2 Feb. 1170. For the remainder of the letter, see 258 above.

1119

260

260

Thomas Cantuariensis archiepiscopus uniuersis Christi fidelibus per Angliam constitutis, qui contra dominum papam Alexandrum iurauerant

Archbishop Thomas of Canterbury to all Christ's Faithful throughout England who Took the Oath against the Lord Pope Alexander

c. November-December 116