Chapter V: Part II: Miscellaneous Sources (1)

HENRY PUTS HIS HOUSE IN ORDER, 1155-7.

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., Part II., pp. 255-6. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the year 1155, being the first year of the reign of King Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said King laid siege to the castles of his enemies in England, and captured them; some of which he retained in his own hands, and some he levelled with the ground. After this, he crossed over into Normandy, and did homage to Louis, King of the Franks, for Normandy, Aquitaine, Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, with all their appurtenances.

In the year of grace 1156, being the second year of the reign of King Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said King returned from Normandy to England, and caused nearly all the castles, which had been erected in England in the time of King Stephen, to be demolished, and issued a new coinage, which was the only one received and current throughout the realm; he also established peace in the kingdom, and commanded the laws of King Henry, his grandfather, to be observed inviolably throughout the whole of his kingdom, and in many matters followed the advice of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury.

In the year of grace 1157, being the third year of the reign of King Henry, son of the Empress Matilda, the said King, by the advice and entreaty of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, conferred the Chancellorship upon Thomas, Archdeacon of Canterbury, and bestowed upon him many revenues, both ecclesiastical and of a secular nature, and received him so much into his esteem and familiarity, that throughout the kingdom there was no one his equal, save the King alone.

In the same year, Malcolm, King of the Scots, came to the King of England at Chester, and did homage to him, in the same way that his grandfather had done homage to the former King Henry, saving always all his dignities.

SUPERSTITIONS AND CHARACTER OF THE IRISH, CIRC. 1155.

_Instance of Superstition._

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 79, Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

I now proceed to relate some wonderful occurrences which have happened within our times. About three years before the arrival of Earl John in Ireland, it chanced that a priest, who was journeying from Ulster towards Meath, was benighted in a certain wood on the borders of Meath. While, in company with only a young lad, he was watching by a fire which he had kindled under the branches of a spreading tree, lo! a wolf came up to them, and immediately addressed them to this effect: "Rest secure, and be not afraid, for there is no reason you should fear, where no fear is!" The travellers being struck with astonishment and alarm, the wolf added some orthodox words referring to God. The priest then implored him and adjured him by Almighty God and faith in the Trinity, not to hurt them, but to inform them what creature it was that in the shape of a beast uttered human words. The wolf, after giving catholic replies to all questions, added at last: "There are two of us, a man and a woman, natives of Ossory, who, through the curse of one Natalis, saint and abbot, are compelled every seven years to put off the human form, and depart from the dwellings of men. Quitting entirely the human form, we assume that of wolves. At the end of the seven years, if they chance to survive, two others being substituted in their places, they return to their country and their former shape. And now, she who is my partner in this visitation lies dangerously sick not far from hence, and, as she is at the point of death, I beseech you, inspired by divine charity, to give her the consolations of your priestly office."

At this word the priest followed the wolf trembling, as he led the way to a tree at no great distance, in the hollow of which he beheld a she-wolf, who under that shape was pouring forth human sighs and groans. On seeing the priest, having saluted him with human courtsey, she gave thanks to God, who in this extremity had vouchsafed to visit her with such consolation. She then received from the priest all the rites of the church, duly performed, as far as the last communion. This also she importunately demanded, earnestly supplicating him to complete his good offices by giving her the viaticum. The priest stoutly asserting that he was not provided with it, the he-wolf, who had withdrawn to a short distance, came back and pointed out a small missal-book, containing some consecrated wafers which the priest carried on his journey, suspended from his neck, under his garment, after the fashion of the country. He then intreated him not to deny them the gift of God, and the aid destined for them by Divine Providence; and to remove all doubt, using his claw for a hand, he tore off the skin of the she-wolf from the head down to the navel, folding it back. Thus she immediately presented the form of an old woman. The priest, seeing this, and compelled by his fear more than his reason, gave the communion; the recipient having earnestly implored it, and devoutly partaking of it. Immediately afterwards the he-wolf rolled back the skin, and fitted it to its original form.

_Their Character._

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 111. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

It appears to me very remarkable, and deserving of notice, that, as in the present life the people of this nation are beyond all others, irascible and prompt to revenge, so also in the life that is after death, the saints of this country, exalted by their merits above those of other lands, appear to be of a vindictive temper. There appears to me no other way of accounting for this circumstance, but this: as the Irish people possessed no castles, while the country is full of marauders, who live by plunder, the people, and more especially the ecclesiastics, made it their practice to have recourse to the churches, instead of fortified places, as refuges for themselves and their property; and, by Divine Providence and permission, there was frequent need that the Church should visit her enemies with the severest chastisements; this being the only mode by which evildoers and impious men could be deterred from breaking the peace of ecclesiastical societies, and for securing even to a servile submission the reverence due to the very churches themselves, from a rude and irreligious people.

THE PAGANISM OF THE IRISH, CIRC. 1155.

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 135. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

They are given to treachery more than any other nation, and never keep the faith they have pledged, neither shame nor fear withholding them from constantly violating the most solemn obligations, which, when entered into with themselves, they are above all things anxious to have observed. So that, when you have used the utmost precaution, when you have been most vigilant for your own security and safety, by requiring oaths and hostages, by treaties of alliance firmly made, and by benefits of all kinds conferred, then begins your time to fear; for then especially their treachery is awake, when they suppose that, relying in the fulness of your security, you are off your guard. That is the moment for them to fly to their citadel of wickedness, turn against you their weapons of deceit, and endeavour to do you injury, by taking the opportunity of catching you unawares.

(_G. C._, p 138.)

There are some things which shame would prevent my relating, unless the course of my subject required it. For a filthy story seems to reflect a stain on the author, although it may display his skill. But the severity of history does not allow us either to sacrifice truth or affect modesty; and what is shameful in itself may be related by pure lips in decent words. There is then in the northern and most remote part of Ulster, namely, at Kenel Cunil, a nation which practices a most barbarous and abominable rite in creating their King. The whole people of that country being gathered in one place, a white mare is led into the midst of them, and he who is to be inaugurated, not as a prince, but as a brute, not as a king, but as an outlaw, comes before the people on all fours, confessing himself a beast with no less impudence than imprudence. The mare being immediately killed, and cut in pieces and boiled, a bath is prepared for him from the broth. Sitting in this he eats of the flesh which is brought to him, the people standing round and partaking of it also. He is also required to drink of the broth in which he is bathed, not drawing it in any vessel, nor even in his hand, but lapping it with his mouth. These unrighteous rites being duly accomplished, his royal authority and dominion are ratified.

(_G. C._, p. 139.)

Moreover, though the faith has been planted for so long a period in this country that it has grown to maturity, there are some corners of the land in which many are still unbaptised, and to whom, through the negligence of their pastors, the knowledge of the truth has never penetrated. I heard some sailors relate that, having been once driven by a violent storm, during Lent, to the northern islands and unexplored expanse of the sea of Connaught, they at last took shelter under a small island. Here they could hardly hold their ground by the help of their anchor, though they had three cables out or more. After three days, the storm abating, the sky becoming again clear, and the sea calm, they beheld at no great distance the features of a land which was before entirely unknown to them. From this land not long afterwards they saw a small boat rowing towards them. It was narrow and oblong, and made of wattled boughs, covered and sewn with the hides of beasts. In it were two men, stark naked, except that they wore broad belts of the skin of some animal fastened round their waists. They had long yellow hair, like the Irish, falling below the shoulders and covering great part of their bodies. The sailors finding that these men were from some part of Connaught, and spoke the Irish language, took them into the ship. All that they saw there was new to them and a subject of wonder. They said that they had never seen before a large ship, built of timber, or anything belonging to civilised man. Bread and cheese being offered to them, they refused to eat them, having no knowledge of either. Flesh, fish, and milk, they said, were their only food. Nor did they wear any clothes, except sometimes the skins of beasts, in cases of great necessity. Having inquired of the sailors whether they had on board any flesh with which they could satisfy their hunger, and being told in reply that it was not lawful to eat flesh during Lent, they were utterly ignorant what Lent was. Neither did they know anything about the year, the month, or the week; and by what names the days of the week were called was entirely beyond their conception. Being asked whether they were Christians, and had been baptised, they replied that to the present hour they had never heard of the name of Christ, and knew nothing about Him. On their return, they carried back a loaf and a cheese, that they might be able to astonish their countrymen by the sight of the provisions which the strangers ate.

It must be observed also, that the men who enjoy ecclesiastical immunity, and are called ecclesiastical men, although they be laics and have wives, and wear long hair hanging down below the shoulders, but only do not bear arms, wear for their protection, by authority of the Pope, fillets on the crown of their heads, as a mark of distinction. Moreover, these people, who have customs so very different from others, and so opposite to them, on making signs either with the hands or the head, beckon when they mean that you should go away, and nod backward as often as they wish to be rid of you. They are also prone to the failing of jealousy beyond any other nation. The women also, as well as the men, ride astride, with their legs stuck out on each side of the horse.

TRIBAL DISPUTE (1154-7).

+Source.+--_Song of Dermot._ Orpen. Clarendon Press. 1892.

l. 22. Now in Leath-luinn there was a king,
O'Rourke he was called in Irish,
In Tisbrun, the barren, he dwelt,
A waste, a woody land.
But O'Rourke, the rich King,
Had a beautiful wife at this time,
The daughter of King Melaghlin
To whom Meath was subject.

* * * *

l. 40. Dermot, King of Leinster
Whom this lady loved so much,
Made pretence to her of loving,
While he did not love her at all,
But only wished to the utmost of his power
To avenge, if he could, the great shame
Which the men of Leath-luinn wrought of old
On the men of Leath-Mogha in his territory.
King Dermot often sent word
To the lady whom he so loved--
By letter and by messenger,
Often did the King send word
That she was altogether, in truth,
The thing in the world that he most loved;

l.94. King Dermot immediately
Came marching to the place
Where the lady had sent word
That she would be ready.
In this way Dermot the King
Carried off the lady at this time.

* * * *

l. 110. O'Rourke much grieving,
To Connaught went in all haste.
To the King of Connaught he relates all:

* * * *

l. 126. The King of Connaught sent word
To the King of Ossory in the first place,
That he should not fail their King
But should come to their aid.
And these men fully promised him
That they would make him King in that territory
If they could cast out of it
King Dermot who was so bold.
And this man immediately revolted
Against his lord King Dermot;
And Melaghlin, the traitor,
Abandoned his lord;
And Mac Torkil of Dublin
Abandoned his lord at this moment.
There joined in the treason
Murrough O'Brien, an evil rebel.

* * * *

l. 206. When Dermot the King perceived
That he was betrayed at this time--
His own men failed him,
So completely was he betrayed--
And that they wished to take him
To hand him over and sell him to O'Rourke,
While the King of Connaught on the other hand
Should make a great destruction of him--
Why should I delay you
From your geste at all?
His people by the strong hand
Have cast out King Dermot,
Have wrested the whole kingdom from him
And have driven him from Ireland.
When the King was exiled
He took ship at Corkerau

* * * *

His ships had a very fine breeze,
At Bristol they take the shore.

* * * *

THE BULL OF POPE ADRIAN IV. EMPOWERING HENRY II. TO CONQUER IRELAND, A.D. 1155.

+Source.+--_Historical Documents of the Middle Ages_, p. 10. Henderson. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

Bishop Adrian, servant of the servants of God, sends to his dearest son in Christ, the illustrious King of the English, greeting and apostolic benediction. Laudably and profitably enough thy magnificence thinks of extending thy glorious name on earth, and of heaping up rewards of eternal felicity in heaven, inasmuch as, like a good catholic prince, thou dost endeavour to enlarge the bounds of the Church, to declare the truth of the Christian faith to ignorant and barbarous nations, and to extirpate the plants of evil from the field of the Lord....

There is indeed no doubt, as thy Highness doth also acknowledge, that Ireland and all other islands which Christ the Sun of Righteousness has illumined, and which have received the doctrines of the Christian faith, belong to the jurisdiction of St. Peter and of the Holy Roman Church....

Thou hast signified to us, indeed, most beloved son in Christ, that thou dost desire to enter into the island of Ireland, in order to subject the people to the laws and to extirpate the vices that have there taken root, and that thou art willing to pay an annual pension to St. Peter of one penny from every house, and to preserve the rights of the churches in that land inviolate and entire....

[This bull was not thought to be genuine by the majority of historians, but Mr. Orpen in _Ireland under the Normans_, 1912, successfully proves its authenticity.]

THOMAS À BECKET. LIFE BEFORE HIS ELECTION (1162).

+Source.+--_Roger of Wendover, Annal 1162._ Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

The same year, the clergy and people of the whole province of Canterbury assembled at Westminster, where Thomas, the King's Chancellor, was solemnly elected, without opposition, to be Archbishop. This happened on Whitsunday: the Chancellor was ordained priest, by Walter Bishop of Rochester, in the church of Canterbury, and on the following Sunday was consecrated by Henry Bishop of Winchester, and solemnly enthroned. Messengers were immediately despatched to Rome, but they met the Pope on this side of the Alps entering France, and they returned to England, bringing with them the pall; which was placed on the altar in the Church of Canterbury. Thomas then, having taken the usual oaths, received the pall from the altar, and reverently put on him the robes of a high-priest. But this change of habit was preliminary to a change of heart also, for he now renounced secular cares, and attended only to the spiritual concerns of the Church and the gain of souls. He sent messengers to the King in Normandy, renouncing the Chancellorship and resigning the great seal. This act sank deep into the mind of the King, who looked upon himself alone as the cause of his resignation. This was the first occasion on which the King's feelings were ruffled towards Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury. Now this Thomas was a native of the City of London, and from his childhood was adorned with many virtues. From his birth, he used to take pleasure in invoking the blessed virgin, and, next to Christ, reposed all his hopes upon her. When he had finished his schooling, he entered the service of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, and by his industry, soon won his way to intimacy and familiarity with him. Of his services and labours for the cause of God's Church, how he more than once visited the threshold of the apostles on matters of business, and how he successfully discharged his commissions, it is not easy to relate, seeing that his whole mind was devoted to examining and deciding causes and to instructing the people. He was first promoted by the Archbishop to be Archdeacon of Canterbury, and shortly after he was made King's Chancellor, in which capacity he wisely and prudently checked the rapacity of those kites, who, in servility to the King, had conspired to plunder the property both of the provincials and of the church.

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.

BECKET'S EXILE (1165).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., pp. 266, 267. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

At this moment the King sent him word by his knights to come to him without delay, and render to him a full account of all the receipts of the revenues of the kingdom during the time that he had been his Chancellor. And, in particular, he was questioned with reference to thirty thousand pounds of silver; on which the archbishop made answer: "My lord the King knows that I have often rendered him an account with reference to all the demands he is now making upon me before my election to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. But, upon my election to that See, the King's son, Henry, to whom the kingdom was bound by its oath, and all the barons of the exchequer, and Richard de Lucy, the justiciary of England, released me before God and the Holy Church, from all receipts and reckonings, and from all secular exactions on behalf of our lord the King, and thus, free and acquitted, was I elected to the administration of the duties of this office; and for that reason do I refuse to plead any further." The King, upon hearing this, said to his barons: "Make haste and pronounce judgment upon this person, who, being my liege-man, refuses to take his trial in my court"; on which they went forth and pronounced that he deserved to be arrested and placed in confinement. On hearing this, the King sent to him Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, and Robert, Earl of Leicester, to inform him of the judgment that had been pronounced upon him: who accordingly said to him: "Listen to the judgment pronounced upon you." To this, the bishop made answer: "In the name of Almighty God, and under penalty of excommunication, I forbid you this day to pronounce judgment upon me, inasmuch as I have appealed unto the presence of our lord the Pope." While the above-named earls were carrying this answer to the King, the archbishop went forth from the chamber, and going through the midst of them, reached his palfrey, and mounting it, left the palace, all the people shouting after him and saying: "Where are you going, traitor? Stop and hear your sentence!"

When, however, he had arrived at the outer gates, he found them shut, and was in great apprehension of being taken by his enemies, but Almighty God delivered him. For, Peter de Munctorio, one of his servants, espied a number of keys hanging on a nail near the gate, and taking them down, opened it, on which the archbishop sallied forth on horseback, the King's porters standing by, and uttering not a word. The archbishop made all haste to arrive at the house of some canons regular, where he was hospitably entertained, and commanded the tables to be set out and all the poor that were to be found before the gates to be introduced to eat and drink in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was accordingly done; and he, together with them and his people, becomingly partook of the repast in the refectory of the canons, and, when it was finished, made his bed in the Church, between the nave and the altar. In the meantime, he had secretly ordered preparations to be made for his journey, as it was his intention to depart by night. At twilight, therefore, when the King and the rest were supping in the town, taking with him two friars of the Cistercian Order, the name of one of whom was Robert de Caune, and of the other, Scainen, and a single servant, who was called Roger de Broc, he went out of the town through the gate, which was left entirely without guards, and at daybreak arrived at Lincoln, and was entertained at the house of James. Here the archbishop changed his dress, and, changing his name, ordered himself to be called by that of Dereham; and being recognized by few persons, taking remote ways and bye-paths, he hastened towards the sea-shore, he and his attendants riding on at night, and concealing themselves in the day among his friends and acquaintances. At last they arrived at the sea-shore, and reaching the port of Sandwich, secretly embarked on board of a ship, and then, secretly setting sail, in the morning landed in Flanders, whence he immediately made his way to France.

Before, however, he had arrived at the court of Louis, King of the Franks, Gilbert Folliet, bishop of London, and William, Earl of Arundel, had arrived on behalf of the King of England, to prevent the King of France from receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury in his kingdom, and to request him to beg our lord the Pope, out of his love for him, not to receive the Archbishop of Canterbury into his favour. But the more pains the above-named envoys of the King of England took to have Archbishop of Canterbury expelled from the kingdom of France, the more did the King of France favour him and his cause.

THE RETURN (1170).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., p. 330. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the meantime, Louis, King of the Franks, and the archbishops, bishops, and nobles of the kingdom of France, besought the Roman Pontiff in behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the love which they bore him, and with protestations of implicit obedience, no longer to admit the excuses and delays which the King of England continually put forward, as he loved the kingdom of France and the honour of the Apostolic See. William, the bishop of Sens, also, being astonished at the desolate condition of the English Church, repaired to the Apostolic See, and obtained of the Roman Church, that, an end being put to all appeals, the King of the English should be subjected to excommunication, and his kingdom to interdict, unless peace were restored to the Church of Canterbury. Thus, at last, it pleased God, the dispenser of all things, to recompense the merits of His dearly beloved Thomas, and to crown his long labours with the victorious palm of martyrdom. He, therefore, brought the King of England to a better frame of mind, who, through the paternal exhortation of our lord the Pope, and by the advice of the King of the Franks, and of many bishops, received the archbishop again into favour, and allowed him to return to his church.

BECKET'S LIFE (1170).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., p. 333. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

As for his life, it was perfectly unimpeachable before God and man. To arise before daybreak did not seem to him a vain thing, as he knew that the Lord has promised a crown to the watchful. For every day he arose before daybreak, while all the rest were asleep, and entering his oratory would pray there for a long time; and then returning, he would awake his chaplains and clerks from their slumbers, and, the matins and the hours of the day being chaunted, devoutly celebrate the mass; and every day and night he received three or five flagellations from the hand of a priest. After the celebration of the mass, every day he re-entered his oratory, and, shutting the door after him, devoted himself to prayer with abundant tears; and no one but God alone knew the manner in which he afflicted his flesh. And thus did he do daily unto his flesh until the hour for dining, unless some unusual solemnity or remarkable cause prevented it. On coming forth from his oratory, he would come to dine among his people, not that he might sate his body with costly food, but that he might make his household cheerful thereby, and that he might fill the poor ones of the Lord with good things, whom, according to his means, he daily increased in numbers. And although costly and exquisite food and drink were set before him, still his only food and drink were bread and water.

One day, while the archbishop was sitting at the table of Alexander, the Supreme Pontiff, a person who was aware of this secret, placed before him a cup full of water. On the Supreme Pontiff taking it up, and tasting it, he found it to be the purest wine, and delicious to drink; on which he said: "I thought that this was water"; and on replacing the cup before the archbishop, the wine immediately returned to its former taste of water. Oh wondrous change by the right hand of the Most High!

Every day, when the archbishop arose from dinner, unless more important business prevented him, he always devoted himself to reading the Scriptures until the hour of vespers at the time of sunset. His bed was covered with soft coverlets and cloths of silk, embroidered on the surface with gold wrought therein; and while other persons were asleep, he alone used to lie on the bare floor before his bed, repeating psalms and hymns, and never ceasing from prayers, until at last, overcome with fatigue, he would gradually recline his head upon a stone, put beneath it in place of a pillow: and thus would his eyes enjoy sleep, while his heart was ever watchful for the Lord. His inner garment was of coarse sackcloth, made of goat's hair, with which his whole body was covered, from the arms down to the knees. But his outer garments were remarkable for their splendour and extreme costliness, to the end that, thus deceiving human eyes, he might please the sight of God. There was no individual acquainted with this secret of his way of living, with the exception of two--one of whom was Robert, Canon of Merton, his chaplain, and the name of the other was Brun, who had charge of his sackcloth garments, and washed them when necessary; and they were bound by their words and oaths that, during his life, they would disclose these facts to no one.

BECKET'S DEATH (1171).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Vol. I., pp. 335, 336. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

Hardly had the father been residing one month in his see, when lo! on the fifth day of the feast of the Nativity of our Lord, there came to Canterbury four knights, or rather sworn satellites of Satan, whose names were as follows: William de Tracy, Hugh de Morville, Richard Briton, and Reginald Fitz-Urse, men of families remarkable for their respectability, but destined, by their daring to commit so enormous a crime, to blemish the glories of knighthood and the honours of their ancestors with perpetual ignominy. Accordingly, these persons made their way into the presence of the archbishop, and, as nothing salutary was the object of their message, in the malice they had conceived they omitted pronouncing any salutation, and addressed him in an insolent and haughty manner. Threats were exchanged on both sides and threat was answered with threat.

Now, the archbishop, with meekness and self-possession, had gone before them to the choir of the church, the monks having entreated, nay, forced him, on account of the solemnity of the season, to perform the service at vespers. When he perceived these armed men behind him, in the middle of the cloisters, it might have been expected that their own malignant feelings would have warned them to leave the church; but, neither did reverence for the solemn occasion dissuade them from their crime, nor the innocence of the patriarch prevent them from shedding his blood. Indeed, so entirely had their shameless determination to perpetrate the crime taken possession of them and blinded them, that they neither regarded the disgrace to their knighthood, nor took account of any danger. Therefore, following the archbishop with headlong and heedless steps, with drawn swords, they entered the church, and furiously cried aloud: "Where is this traitor?" After which, no one making answer, they repeated, "Where is the archbishop?" Upon this he, the confessor, and, shortly to be, the martyr in the cause of Christ, being sensible that under the first name he was falsely charged, and that, by virtue of his office, the other belonged to him, came down from the steps to meet them, and said: "Behold, here am I," showing such extraordinary presence of mind, that neither his mind seemed agitated by fear, nor his body by trepidation.

On this the knights instantly laid hands on him and seized him, that, for the perpetration of their design, they might drag him out of the church, but were unable so to do. The archbishop, on seeing his murderers with drawn swords, after the manner of one in prayer, bowed his head, uttering these as his last words: "To God and to Saint Mary, and to the Saints, the patrons of this church, and to Saint Denis, I commend myself and the cause of the Church." After this, amid all these tortures, this martyr, with unconquerable spirit and admirable constancy, uttered not a word or cry, nor heaved a sigh, nor lifted his arm against the smiter; but, bowing his head, which he had exposed to their swords, held it unmoved until the deed was completed.

COMING OF DERMOT (1168-9).

+Source.+--_Song of Dermot._

_Dermot had an interview with Earl Richard._

His daughter he offered him to wife,
The thing in the world that he most loved:
That he would let him have her to wife
And would give Leinster to him,
On condition that he would aid him
So that he should be able to subdue it.

_Earl Richard (Strongbow) in Ireland, 1170._

l. 1501. Very soon afterwards Earl Richard
Landed at Waterford
Full fifteen hundred men he brought with him.

* * * *

On St. Bartholomew's day
Earl Richard, the prudent,
Took by assault and won
The City of Waterford.

* * * *

l. 1524. King Dermot speedily
Came there, be sure, right royally.
The King in his company
Brought there many of his barons,
And his daughter he brought there;
To the noble earl he gave her.
The earl honourably
Wedded her in the presence of the people.
King Dermot then gave
To the earl, who was so renowned,
Leinster he gave him
With his daughter, whom he so much loved,
Provided only that he should have the lordship
Of Leinster during his life.

* * * *

Then they turned towards Dublin
The King and the renowned earl

* * * *

l. 1644. Outside the walls of the city
Was the King encamped;

* * * *

Now Dermot, the noble King,
Despatched Morice Regan,
And by Morice proclaimed
To the citizens of the city
That without delay, without any respite,
They should surrender without gainsaying.

* * * *

And Miles the renowned baron
To the earl gave up the city.

* * * *

And the King returned
To Ferns in his own country.

* * * *

At Ferns then tarried
King Dermot during this winter.
The King, who was so noble,
Lies buried at Ferns.
King Dermot is dead. May God have mercy on his soul.
All the Irish of the country
Revolted against the earl.

* * * *

And the rich King of Connaught
Summoned to him
The Irish of all Ireland
In order to lay siege to Dublin.

* * * *

l. 1767. The earl you must know, at this time
Was within the city, of a truth.
The son of Stephen promptly sent
Some of his men to the earl:
In order to aid and succour him
He sent men to him at this crisis,
When Robert had sent
About thirty-six of his men
To aid the earl Richard,
The traitors without any delay
Fell upon Robert,
In the town of Wexford
They wrongfully slew his men:

* * * *

Within a castle on the Slaney ...
The traitors took Robert
And put him in prison in Begerin.

* * * *

l. 2199. When the earl (Richard) had appeased
The Irish of the country,
Then the English King sent
To the earl to announce
That, without delay, without gainsaying,
Without taking time or respite,
The earl should come speedily
To speak to him at once.

* * * *

l. 2229. Earl Richard at this time
At Pembroke found the rich king.

* * * *

The noble earl saluted him
In the name of the Son of the King of Majesty,
And the King graciously
Made answer to Earl Richard.
The King thereupon replied
"May God almighty bless you."

* * * *

l. 2495. As soon as the King came to the sea
At Pembrokeshire, in order to cross over,
Lo! then at the harbour
Twelve traitors from Wexford
Came to land in a boat

* * * *

"Hold it not, lord, as folly,"
Thus spake the traitors unto him,
"If we shall say to you--be it known to you all--
Why we have come to you.
We have taken yon rebellious vassal,
Robert Fitzstephen is his name,

* * * *

In a strong prison we have placed him;
To thee we shall give him up, noble King,
Who art lord of the English,
And do you, noble renowned King,
Do your pleasure in this matter."
The King replied to them
"On this condition be ye welcome,
That ye hand over this man to me,
And then ye will see what I shall do with him."

_Henry II.'s Invasion of Ireland, 1171-2._

l. 2579. Hear, my lords, concerning King Henry,
Who was the son of the empress,
How he resolved to cross the sea
And to conquer Ireland
Entirely through the recommendation
Of the noble earl, according to the people.
King Henry then crossed over
To Ireland with his ships.
The King then brought with him
Four hundred armed knights.
King Henry when he took ship
Put to sea at the Cross:
At Pembrokeshire at this time
The rich King put to sea.
With him the noble earl crossed over,
According to the statement of the old people.
At Waterford the noble King
Landed with four thousand English,
On All Hallows' Day, of a truth,
If the geste does not deceive us;
Before the feast of St. Martin
The King at length came to Ireland.
With the King there crossed over
Vassals of good kindred.

* * * *

l. 2614. The earl of his own free will
Surrendered the city to the King:
To the King he surrendered Waterford
Of his own free will and agreement.
Homage for Leinster
He did to the King of England.

* * * *

From Waterford King Henry
Set out with his marquises,
To Dublin with his men
He went without delay.
Richard, the noble and valiant earl,
Straightway surrendered the city to him.
Dublin King Henry gave
To the custody of Hugh de Lacy
And he afterwards guarded the city
By the command of the King.
And the King of England
Thence turned towards Munster,
To the City of Cashel
Went the King with his splendid following,
Where at that time was the seat
Of the archbishopric of Munster.
From Cashel the puissant King
Went on to Lismore.
King Henry Curt Mantel
At Lismore wished to fortify
A castle: so wished King Henry,
Who was the empress' son,
I know not why, but nevertheless
At this time, he put it off.
Towards Leinster the English King
Set out at this time:
Towards Leinster, the rich,
He went with his chivalry,
Eighteen weeks, nor more nor less,
According to what the old people say,
The duke of Normandy remained
In Ireland with his baronage.
Of Normandy at this time
The rich King was duke;
Of Gascony and of Brittany
Of Poitou, of Anjou, and of Maine,
Was King Henry called
Lord, according to the old people.
In Ireland was the King
About a fortnight and four months.
In the land up and down
Marched the noble King.

* * * *

While the renowned King
Was in the City of Dublin
Lo! a messenger in haste
... Came to announce to the King
That Henry his eldest son
Had in truth revolted against him,
And that he sought to deprive him wholly
Of the lordship of Normandy.

* * * *

l. 2763. And the King towards Normandy
Went with his great nobles
In order to make war against a son of his
Who wished to despoil him.
War had the rich King
With the French in Normandy.
In Ireland remained
The noble earl with his friends.

THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE SYNOD OF CASHEL (1172).

+Source.+--_Giraldus Cambrensis_, p. 232. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

_First._ It is decreed that all the faithful throughout Ireland shall eschew concubinage with their cousins and kinsfolk, and contract and adhere to lawful marriages.

_Second._ That children be catechised outside the church doors, and infants baptised at the consecrated fonts in the baptisteries of the churches.

_Third._ That all good Christians do pay the Tithes of beasts, corn and other produce, to the church of the parish of which they live.

_Fourth._ That all the lands and possessions of the church be entirely free from all exactions of secular men; and especially that neither the petty kings nor earls, or other great men in Ireland, nor their sons, nor any of their household, shall exact provisions and lodgings on any ecclesiastical territories, as the custom is, nor under any pretence presume to extort them by violent means; and that the detestable practice of extorting a loaf four times a year from the mills belonging to the churches, by neighbouring lords, shall henceforth be utterly abolished.

_Fifth._ That in the case of a homicide committed by laics, when it is compounded for by the adverse parties, none of the clergy, though of kindred to the perpetrators of the crime, shall contribute anything; that, as they were free from the guilt of the homicide, so they shall be also exonerated from any payment in satisfaction for it.

_Sixth._ That every good Christian, being sick and weak, shall solemnly make his last will and testament in the presence of his confessor and neighbours, and that, if he have any wife and children, all his moveable goods, his debts and servants' wages being first paid, shall be divided into three parts, one of which he shall bequeath to his children, another to his lawful wife, and the third to such uses as he shall declare. And if it shall happen that there be no lawful child or children, then his goods shall be equally divided between his wife and legatees. And if his wife die before him, then his goods shall be divided into two parts, of which the children shall take one, and his residuary legatees the other.

_Seventh._ That those who depart this life after a good confession shall be buried with masses and vigils and all due ceremonies.

_Finally._ That divine offices shall be henceforth celebrated in every part of Ireland, according to the forms and usages of the Church of England.

DISPUTES WITH HENRY'S SONS (1173).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., pp. 367 _seqq._ Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

There also came to Limoges the Earl of Maurienne, and desired to know how much of his own territory the King of England intended to grant to his son John; and on the King expressing an intention to give him the Castle of Chinon, the Castle of Lodun, and the Castle of Mirabel, the King, his son, would in nowise agree thereto, nor allow it to be done. For he was already greatly offended that his father was unwilling to assign to him some portion of his territories, where he, with his wife, might take up their residence. Indeed, he had requested his father to give him either Normandy, or Anjou, or England, which request he had made at the suggestion of the King of France, and of those of the Earls and Barons of England and Normandy, who disliked his father: and from this time it was that the King, the son, had been seeking pretexts and an opportunity for withdrawing from his father. And he had now so entirely revolted in feeling from obeying his wishes, that he could not even converse with him on any subject in a peaceable manner.

Having now gained his opportunity, both as to place and occasion, the King, the son, left his father, and proceeded to the King of France. However, Richard Barre, his chancellor, Walter, his chaplain, Ailward, his chamberlain, and William Blund, his apparitor, left him, and returned to the King, his father. Thus did the king's son lose both his feelings and his senses: he repulsed the innocent, persecuted a father, usurped authority, seized upon a kingdom; he alone was the guilty one, and yet a whole army conspired against his father. "So does the madness of one make many mad." For he it was who thirsted for the blood of a father, the gore of a parent!

In the meantime, Louis, King of the Franks, held a great council at Paris, at which he and all the principal men of France made oath to the son of the King of England that they would assist him in every way in expelling his father from the kingdom if he should not accede to his wishes: on which he swore to them that he would not make peace with his father, except with their sanction and consent. After this, he swore that he would give to Philip, Earl of Flanders, for his homage, a thousand pounds of yearly revenues in England, and the whole of Kent, together with Dover Castle, and Rochester Castle; to Matthew, Earl of Boulogne, for his homage, the Soke of Kirketon in Lindsey, and the earldom of Mortaigue, with the honour of Hay; and to Theobald, Earl of Blois, for his homage, two hundred pounds of yearly revenues in Anjou, and the Castle of Amboise, with all the jurisdiction which he had claimed to hold in Touraine; and he also quitted claim to him of all right that the King his father and himself had claimed in Chateau Regnaud. All these gifts, and many besides, that he had made to other persons, he confirmed under his new seal, which the King of France had ordered to be made for him.

Besides these, he made other gifts, which, under the same seal, he confirmed: namely, to William, King of Scotland, for his assistance, the whole of Northumberland as far as the river Tyne. To the brother of the same king, he gave, for his services, the Earldom of Huntingdon and of Cambridgeshire, and to Earl Hugh Bigot, for his services, the Castle of Norwich.

TROUBLE WITH SCOTLAND (1174).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., p. 377. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.

In the meantime, William, King of the Scots, came into Northumberland with a large force, and there with his Scotch and Galloway men committed execrable deeds. Infants, children, youths, aged men, all of both sexes, from the highest to the lowest, they slew alike without mercy or ransom. The priests and clergy they murdered in the very churches upon the altars. Consequently, wherever the Scots and the Galloway men came, horror and carnage prevailed. Shortly after, the King of the Scots sent his brother David to Leicester; but before he arrived there, Reginald, Earl of Cornwall, and Richard de Lacy, Justiciary of England, had burned the City of Leicester to the ground, together with its churches and buildings, with the exception of the castle.

THE PENANCE OF HENRY (1174).

+Source.+--_Roger de Hoveden_, Part 2, Vol. I., p. 383. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.