DISPUTE CONCERNING CONSTITUTIONS OF CLARENDON (1164).
Source.—Roger de Hoveden, Vol. I., p. 259, seqq. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.
In the year of grace 1164, being the tenth year of the reign of King Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said Henry gave to Henry, duke of Saxony, his daughter Matilda in marriage. In the same year, having called together a great council, and all the archbishops and bishops of England being assembled in his presence, he requested them, out of their love for and obedience to him, and for the establishment of the kingdom, to receive the laws of King Henry, his grandfather, and faithfully to observe them: on which, Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, made answer for himself and the others, that they would receive those laws, which the King said were made by his grandfather, and with good faith would observe the same; saving their orders and the honour of God and of the Holy Church in all respects. But this reservation greatly displeased the King, and he used every possible method to make the bishops promise that they would, without any exception whatever, observe those laws; to this, however, the Archbishop of Canterbury would on no account agree.
After this, there came to England, a certain man belonging to the religious orders, named Philip de Eleemosyna being sent as a legate "a latere" by Alexander the supreme Pontiff, and all the cardinals, for the purpose of making peace between the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury; by whom the Pope and all the cardinals sent word to the Archbishop of Canterbury, that he must make peace with the King of England his master, and promise, without any exception, to obey his laws. Assenting, therefore, to this and other advice on the part of these great men, the Archbishop of Canterbury came to the King at Woodstock, and there made a promise to the King and agreed that he would, in good faith, and without any bad intent, observe his laws.
Shortly after this, the clergy and people of the kingdom being convened at Clarendon, the archbishop reported that he had made this concession to the King, and wishing to recede from his agreement, said that in making the concession he had greatly sinned, but would sin no longer in so doing. In consequence of this, the King's anger was greatly aroused against him, and he threatened him and his people with exile and death; upon which, the Bishops of Salisbury and Norwich came to the archbishop, together with Robert, Earl of Leicester, Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, and the two Templars, Richard de Hastings and Tostes de Saint Omer, and in tears threw themselves at the feet of archbishop, and begged that he would at least, for the sake of the King's dignity, come to him, and in the presence of the people, declare that he would observe his laws. The archbishop being consequently overcome by the entreaties of such great men, came to the King, and in the presence of the clergy, and the people, said that he acceded to those laws which the King called those of his grandfather. He also conceded that the bishops should receive those laws and promise to observe them. Upon this, the King gave orders to all the earls and barons of the realm, that they should go out and call to remembrance the laws of King Henry his grandfather, and reduce them to writing. When this had been done, the King commanded the archbishops and bishops to annex their seals to the said writing; but, while the others were ready so to do, the Archbishop of Canterbury swore that he would never annex his seal to that writing or confirm those laws.
When the King saw that he could not by these means attain his object, he ordered a written copy of these laws to be made, and gave a duplicate of it to the Archbishop of Canterbury, which he, in spite of the prohibition of the whole of the clergy, received from the King's hand, and turning to the clergy exclaimed "Courage brethren! by means of this writing we shall be enabled to discover the evil intentions of the King, and against whom we ought to be on our guard"; after which he retired from the court, and was unable by any means to recover the King's favour. And because he had acted inadvisedly in this matter, he suspended himself from the celebration of divine service from that hour, until such time as he himself, or his messenger, should have spoken thereon with our lord the Pope.