The South English Legendary

Gilberd was sein Thomas fader þat triwe man was & god
He louede God & Holy Churche suþþe he wit vnderstod
Þe crois to þe Holy Lond inis ȝonghede he nom
And mid on Richard þat was is man to Ierusalem he com
Þare hi dude hare pilgrimage in holy studes faste
So þat amang Sarazins hi were inome attelaste
Hi and oþere Cristenemen and in strang prison ido
In miseise & in pine inou in honger & chile also
In strang swinch niȝt & day to of swinke hore me[te] stronge
In such swinch & hard lif hi liuede ham þoȝte to longe
For volle oþer half ȝer gret anuy hi hadde & ssame
In þe prince is hous of þe lawe Amiraud was is name

Ac þis Gilberd of Londone best grace he hadde þere

611

Of þe prince & alle his among alle þat þare were
For ofte al in veteres and in oþer bende
Þe prince he seruede atte mete for he þoȝte him god & hende
And ofte þe prince also god in conseil him wolde drawe
And þe manere of Engelond him esste and of þe lawe

So þat me wolde is felawes muche god ofte do
For is loue & alle hi uerde þe bet for him also
And nameliche for a maide þat louede þis Gilberd uaste
Þe princes doȝter Amiraud þat hure heorte al upe him caste
And louede him in triwe loue in gret mornynge and wo
And þe princes eir he[o] was for he nadde children namo
And of hure he hadde lite blisse and lite harm it was
For he[o] com to betere ende as ȝe ssolle ihure þat cas

Þis maide þat louede so þis Gilberd deorneliche
He[o] spak þo heo sei hure tyme wiþ him priueliche
And esste him of Engelond and of þe maner þere
And of þe lif of Cristendom & wat hare bileue were

Þe manere of Engelond Gilberd hure tolde uore
And þat þe toun het Londone þat he was inne ibore
And þe bileue of Cristen men & þe blisse & þan ende
In heuene ssolde hare mede habbe wanne hi ssoldeþ hanne wende

Wostou quaþ þis maide þo wo so bode it þe
Þolie deþ for þi Louerdes loue Gilberd sede ȝe
And þat him were swuþe leof wo so him þerto broȝte
Þo þe maide him sei so studeuast he[o] stod longe in þoȝte

Ich wolde he[o] sede al my lond bileue for loue of þe
And Cristen womman bicome ȝif þou wolt spousi me
Þo Gilberd hurde þis he was in grete þoȝte
And feinede is word here and þer & ne grantede al noȝt
And seide he was al to hure wille ac he moste him biþenche
For he was strange he dradde ȝut of womman wrenche

He drof euere forþ wiþ faire biheste þis maide longede sore

612

And louede him deorneliche euere þe leng þe more

Gilberd and is felawes suþþe as God þe grace sende
Prison breke & bi[n]iȝte out of þe londe wende
Þe reue amorwe þat ham ssolde to hare labour lede
Nuste þo he miste ham wat him was to rede
Faste he siwede after ham he and oþer mo
Ar hi come to Cristen men me ne miȝte ham noȝt ofgo
Ac wanne hi ne miȝte hom oftake aȝen hi turnde þo
And dude hare beste aȝen þe prince ac arst ham was wel wo

Þe ma[i]de made þo deol inou þat he[o] was euere ibore
For al þe ioie of þis lyf hure þoȝte he[o] hadde ilore
He[o] weop and made so muche deol þat me nuste neuere of more
Ne telle of womman þat me weste þat boȝte loue so sore
For by niȝte he[o] wende al one he[o] nuste woderward
And of spence wiþ hure nom to seche þis Gilbard
And bileuede al hure gret heritage & hure heie kun also
And ne sparede for non eritage þat hure miȝte come to
Ne for siknesse ne for deþ ne for honger ne for wo
Ne for peril in þe se ne alonde noþemo
Ne þat he[o] ssolde amang Cristene men vylore þan an hound be[o]
Ne þat hi ne knewe hure speche noȝt ne þat he[o] weoste woder te[o]

Ne ware he[o] ssolde þis Gilberd alyue finde oȝt
Ne weþer he wolde spouse hure wanne he[o] him hadde al isoȝt
And naþeles he[o] wende forþ mid wel god pas
Hou þingþ ȝou was he[o] hardi oȝt for Gode me þingþ he[o] was

He[o] wende and esste to Engelond & gret peril anhonde nom
So þat in pine and wo inou at þan ende þuder he[o] com

613

And þo he[o] elles þuder com he[o] ne couþe Engliss word non
Bote Londone Londone to esse woderward gon
And þare þoru me teiȝte hure þe wey so þat he[o] þuder com
And ȝeode aboute as a best þat ne couþe no wisdom
As he[o] were of anoþer world þat folk þicke inou
To biholde a such mopiss best aboute hure þicke it drou

And nameliche childrene and wilde boyes also
For þe wonder hi siwede hure & scornede hure þerto
So þat mid noise & cry inou attenende bicas
He com aȝen þulke hous as þis Gilberd inne was
And sein Thomas was suþþe þerinne ibore gracious was þat cas
Þat is nou an ospital irered of sein Thomas

As Richard wiþinne was þe noise he hurde þere
Out he ȝede forto awaite wat þat noyse were
He stod þo he hure ykneu as a man þat were forlore
In gret wonder in he orn and tolde is louerd fore

Þis Gilberd þoȝte wonder gret ac þan cheson wel he þoȝte
He het Richard þat he hure nome & mid a god wif hure broȝte
Þare biside fair inou and wiþ semblant hure nom
Suþþe þo þis Gilberd byuore þis maide com
Þe mayde vel upriȝt iswowe anon so [heo] him isei
Þat deol was among al folk þat þare was ney

Þis Gilberd him held somdel stille as him noþing nere
Ac sixe bissops þulke tyme at sein Poules þare were
Ac hi were at parlement for neode of þe londe
Þis Gilberd in þis wonder cas him gan vnderstonde
And ȝeode & tolde ham euerich del red of ham to auonge
Þare of alle hi wondrede and in conseil stude longe

Þe bissop verst of Chichestre is auis sede þanne

614

Þat it a bitokne of God is and noȝt of manne
And þat he wolde þat hi were ispoused & such cas sende þerfore
And þat þer miȝte som holy child bytwene ham be[o] ibore
Þereuore alle hy radde & bitwene ham gonne byse[o]
Þat þis Gilberd hure ssolde spouse ȝif he[o] wolde Cristene be[o]
So þat þis maide amorwe biuore þis byssops com
Hy radde hure for Gilberdes loue auonge Cristendom

Wel vawe quaþ þis maide þo ȝif he me wole spouse oȝt
For ȝe mowe alle vnderstonde ȝif ich nadde þat iþoȝt
Inadde noȝt bileued al my kun ne so wide isoȝt
Ne mid honger ne mid oþer wo so deore him iboȝt
Þis maide ibaptized was among þis bissops echon
And heiemen þare at of þe lond þer were ek manyon
For reuerence of þe heie kunne & for þe gentil blod also
Of wan he[o] com and for he[o] was seme & fair þerto

Of þis bissops hi were anon ispoused in þe place
Ech man may segge wel þat þer was Godes grace
For þe uerste niȝt þer afterward bitwene ham biȝete was
Þis gode child of wam we spekeþ þe holy sein Thomas

Þis Gilberd anon amorwe so gret wille him com to
To wende eft to þe Holy Lond þat he nuste wat do
Of is wif was is meste care hou he miȝte fram hure be[o] ibroȝt
Þat was so ȝong & ne couþe of þe londes maner noȝt
So muche he carede deorneliche þat it was deol to se[o]
Is wif was eke in grete þoȝte ware fore it miȝte be[o]
And dradde þat it were for hure þat hy were ispoused þo
Ne mai noman clene telle of hore beire deorne wo

Þis ȝonge wif nolde fyne on hure louerd to grede
Forte he þe encheson of is sor al clanliche sede
And hou is care was al for hure to þe Holy Lond to wende

615

Sire quaþ þis godewif oure Louerd is grace þe sende
Lite we habbeþ togadere ibe[o] & lite ioie auonge
After myne pines & angwises þat bitere were & stronge
And noȝt for þan ich bidde þe ȝif þou hast wille & þoȝt
In oure Louerdes seruise to wende ne bilef it for me noȝt

For ich hopie þat oure Louerd þat me haþ iwest herto
Þe wile þat ich ne kneu him noȝt þat ȝute he wol also
And bet nou ich am of his þeruore ich bidde þe
Ȝif þou wolt inis seruise ne bilef it noȝt for me
And bilef me Richard þy man þat my wardein mowe be[o]
Þat knoweþ me wel & my langage forte ich þe eft ise[o]

Gilberd þo he hurde þis in gret ioie was ido
He ordeinede wel is hous and is meyne also
And is wif hou he[o] libbe ssolde forte God sende oþer sonde
And wende forþ a Godes name toward þe Holy Londe
And was oute þreo ȝer and an half ar he ham com
Þo he com hom he fond is sone a god goinde grom

Þeoinge fair & manliche so eny child miȝte be[o]
Ech man tolde of him pris þat him miȝte ise[o]
Wel it wax and iþei and to eche godnesse drou
Ȝong it was to lore iset and spedde wel inou
Is moder him wolde alday rede and faste on him crie
To lede chast lif & clene and fleo lecherie
And louie for al oþer þing God and seinte Marie
And serui ham and Holy Churche & bileue alle folye

Þis child þei it were ȝong fol wel þis vnderstod
For sely child is sone ilered þar it þingþ be[o] god
Þo þis child was bet in elde of two & twenti ȝer
Is moder wende out of þis lyue þat so muche him louede er
Þis child wolde go leng to scole ac is fader him nolde finde
For child þat haþ ilore is moder is help is muche byhinde
Þis child þoru is fader heste as a man þat oþer red not

616

Seruede a borgeis of þe toun and is acountes wrot
So longe þat he com to court and was in god offis
Wiþ þe erchebissop of Kanterburi sire Tibaud god & wis
He seruede hym so hendeliche þat in a lite stounde
He made him al is conseiler so studeuast he him founde

Is ercedekne he made him suþþe & dude al bi is rede
Swuþe wel gan þis ercedekne Holy Churche lede
And stilleliche held up hure riȝte as alle men iseie
And þer of nolde þolie wrong þei he ssolde deye
Wel ofte he wende to Rome for Holy Churche also
Such prelates nou to vewe þar beoþ an eorþe ido
So þat þe duc of Normandie ymad was al in pes
Henri king of Engelond after Steuene þe Bleis

Þis king Henri þe gode kyng þo he to londe com
Louede muche wel to do and godemen to him nom
And fondede habbe god conseil & wis bi al is miȝte
Forto holde riche and pouere and echeman to riȝte
Of þe ercedekne sein Thomas me tolde him sone inou
Hou he was stable iwis and to alle godnesse drou
Þoru þe erchebissop grant he made him is chanceler
For euere me mot him abowe þat haþ mest power

Þo sein Thomas was iturnd fram offis of Holy Churche
To a gret offis of þe world þar after he moste werche
Al to nobleie of þe world is contenance he broȝte
Þat me ne held nawer so prout man þei oþer were inis þoȝte
Wiþ more nobleie he rod inou þanne he was iwoned to do
Is loreins were of seluer stirops and spores also

Þat plei he siwede of hondes and of haukes inou
As men þoȝte in euerich point to alle prude he drou
Ac inis heorte it was anoþer hou so he him bere
And euere chast þoru alle þing he was hou so it were
And euere he was for Holy Churche and for pouere men also
Aȝen þe proute courteors þat ham wolde misdo

617

[To holde vp þe riȝtes of Holi Churche so moche wo he gan dryue
Aȝen þe liþere conteccours þat nuyede him of his lyue]
As he þe erchebissop tolde wepinge we[l] sore
And oþere ofte in priuetes þat louede him þe more

He wilnede mest of alle þing and on oure Louerd gan crie
Þat he moste wiþ honur bileue þulke baillie
And ech oþer seruise of court wiþ þe kinges gode wille
For he nemiȝte noȝt paie is court bote he wolde is soule spille
Ac þe king him fond so stable and so god conseiler
Þat he nolde make for noþing non oþer chanceler

He ne triste to non so muche ne þer nas non so hei
Þat so muche wuste is priuete ne þat him were so ney
So muche is herte on him was þat inis warde he gan [d]o
Is eoldeste sone sire Henri and is eir also
Þat he were is wardein and al is ordeinour
To wissi him after is wille to þe kynges honour

Þe kyng wende into Normandie to soiorny þere
And bileuede is sone mid sein Thomas þat he is wardein were
Boþe þe uader & þe sone mest hore heorte caste
Ope sein Thomas þe holyman þe wile it wolde ilaste
Þer nas man in Engelond þat hadde so gret poer
Of þe kynedom as hadde sein Thomas þat was þo chanceler

Hit biuel suþþe þat Tebaud as God þe grace sende
Erchebissop of Kanterburi out of þis worlde wende
Þat cri was sone wide aboute amang þiwe and fre[o]
Þat sein Thomas ssolde after him erchebissop be[o]
Þe kyng also in Normandie þo me tolde him þat cas
Anon bar is heorte mest to do þar sein Thomas
Þe couent of Kaunterburi desirde him also
So as echman it wolde it was ibroȝt þerto

618

At Westministre he was ichose to þulke heie poer
Þe vifte ȝer þat he was ymad chanceler
Of eolde he was þulke tyme of foure & fourti ȝer
His owe deþ he aueng and is martirdom þer

For þe kyng was in Normandie ipresented he was
To is sone in Engelond þo non oþer kyng nas
Ac þei it were aȝen is wille he nolde it noȝt forsake
Ac he axede in wuche manere he ssolde þe crois take

Me seide him þat me ssolde auonge Holy Churche so freo
Þat he nessolde vnder noman bote vnder þe pope beo
Ne noþing þenche bote holde up Holy Churche lawe
In þis manere quaþ sein Thomas ich it auonge vawe

Atte Witesontid þis was þat þis dede com to ende
Þis godeman toward Kanterburi anon bigan to wende
Al þe contreie wiþ onur aȝen him com and drou
Þer was for him in Kanterburi ioie & blisse inou

Þe day of þe Trinite isacred he was
And aueng þe dignete þis gode sein Thomas
Sire Henri þe kynges sone was atte sacrynge
And sixtene bissops ek þis dede to ende bringe
Þo þis dede was ido hi gonne sende sone
After þis palm to Rome as riȝt was to done
Þe pope Elysandre was þo at Mounpailers
Þuder wende þis wise men þat were messagers

Þe abbot Adam of Eusam hore cheueintein hy nome
To þe pope Elysandre to Monpaillers hi come
Hore erande hi hadde sone for þe pope noþing ne we[r]nde
Hy nome of him hore leue sone and hamward aȝen turnde
An þis palm was to seint Thomas ibroȝt
Þis holyman it aueng wiþ wel milde þoȝt

Þo he was inis dignete al clanliche ido
He gan to changi is lif and is maners also
Þe here he dude on next is liche is fleiss is maister to be[o]

619

Sseorte and brech streit inou anon to þe kne[o]
For him [þoȝte] he miȝte wel [] of oþer habbe maistrie
Ȝif he hadde of is owe fleiss al out þe seygnurye

Ȝif is soule is maister were and is fleiss is hyne
Him þoȝte he miȝte is dignete bringe to gode fine
Anouwarde þe her suþþe þe abit of monk he nom
And suþþe clerkes robe aboue as to is stat bicom
So þat he was wiþoute clerk wiþ[inne] monk also
Þoru þe abit þat he hadde on him priueliche ido

In penance and in fastinge he was niȝt and day
And in orisons bote som tyme wanne he aslepe lay
Euere wanne he masse songe he weop & siȝte sore
Faste he hastede þer wiþ nemiȝte noman more
Faire he uedde him at is bord wiþ gret nobleie & prute
And of þe beste him sulf he et ac swuþe scarse & lute
Of is ordres he was wel streit and he was in gret fere
Forto ordeyni enyman bote þe betere he were

Idel nolde he neuere be[o] ac euere doin[d]e he was
In eche manere of betere lyue neuere no bissop nas
Sire Henri þe kynges sone þat wiþ him was ibroȝt
Bileuede euere inis warde and fram him nolde noȝt
Þe loue þat was hom bitwene neuere nas iseie
Ne þis child nadde neuere of noman more loue ne eiȝe

Suþþe it biuel þat þe kyng of Normandie com
To Engelond to loke þe stat of is kynedom

Sein Thomas nom wiþ him sire Henry is sone
And wel faire aȝen him wende to Souþ Hamtone
Þar was ioie and blisse inou þo hy togadere come
Hi custe hom vaste & clupte and herede God ilome

Þe kyng bileuede [in Engelond ] to loke is kynedom
And to al is priue conseil sein Thomas he nom
And huld him euere as he dude er is hexte conseiler

620

And nolde is þonkes habbe iheued non oþer chaunceler
And naþeles wanne he eny þing dude aȝen riȝte
Sein Thomas was þer aȝen euere wiþ al is miȝte

Suþþe it biuel þat þe bissop [] of Wircestre ded was
And sire Gilberd Foliot as God ȝaf þat cas
Þat was bissop of Herford ibroȝt was ȝute to more
And ymad bissop of Londone þat ne ofþoȝte him noȝt sore
So þat boþe bissopriches vulle into þe kynges hond
Of Wircestre and of Hereford as lawe was of þe lond

Þe kyng ne ȝaf ham anon noȝt ac huld hom wel longe
Inis hond þat he miȝte þe more prou auonge

Hit ne likede noȝt sein Thomas [] þat Holy Churche so
Ssolde for a lite couetise in þe kynges hond be[o] ido
Him þoȝte þat it was wel muche aȝen oure Louerdes wille
And þat þe kyng miȝte so al Holy Churche aspille

In vaire manere he bad þe kyng þat he ne ssolde byleue
Þat ulke two bissopriches somme godemen [he] ȝeue

Þe king anon in faire manere grantede al is bone
And þis bissopriches ȝaf tweie godemen wel sone
Sire Rogger he made a godman bissop of Wircestre
Sire Roberdes sone þat was eorl of Gloucestre

Bissop he made of Herford an holyman inou
Sire Roberd de Melons þat to eche godnesse drou
Anon sein Thomas þoȝte wel þat he nemiȝte noȝt al paye
Þe kyng ne his conseil bote he wolde Holy Churche bitraie
In care and sorwe he was inou hou he miȝte best do
For he nemiȝte noȝt [paie] þe kyng and oure Louerd also
Sein Thomas halwede þulke ȝer þe churche of Redynge
Þat ifonded was and arered þoru Henri þe oþer kynge
Þat liþ þere faire ibured Willam is sone bastard
In þulke ȝer ek sein Thomas ssryned seint Edward

621

At Westmistre as he lyþ þat biuore kyng Willam was
Bote king Harald was bitwene for is poer no leng nas

Þe loue was euere gret inou bytwene sein Thomas
And þe kyng forte þe deuel destourbed it alas
Lite and lite þe contek sprang for pouere men riȝte
For paie oure Louerd & þe kyng sein Thomas ne miȝte

Þe ferste tyme þat sein Thomas outliche him wiþsede
Was for aȝen pouere men þe kyng dude an unriȝt dede
Þe kyng nom þoru al Engelond fram ȝere to ȝere wel wide
After is wille a somme of panes ideld bi eche side
And suþþe þoru enqueste he let þoru þe contreie enquere
Hou muche echman ssolde paie and hou muche is riȝte were
So longe he nom it to talage þat he esste it attelaste
Ech ȝer for a certein rente þoru al Engelond wel faste
Wat for loue wat for eiȝe non him ne wiþsede
Ac euere þoȝte sein Thomas [þat hit was] an vnriȝt dede

He þoȝte on God and on is soule & bileuede is manhede
And to þe kyng wel baldeliche wende wiþoute ech drede
Sire he sede ȝif it is þi wille þou ert riche and hende
And king of gret poer inou oure Louerd þe more sende
A tailage þou askest her þoru out al þi londe
And axest for a certein rente wiþ vnriȝt ich vnderstonde

For a certein rente ssel be[o] take ech ȝer at a certein daie
And som certein assigne[d] as þou wost wel bi riȝte lawe
Ac þis nis certein itake ac ech ȝer asommed is
Þoru enqueste of þe contreie as talage iwis
War þoru me þingþ a certein rente þou nemiȝt it noȝt make
Ac a tailage and somdel wiþ vnriȝt itake

Thomas Thomas quaþ þe kyng þou ert my chanceler

622

Þou aȝtest bet holde up þanne wiþsegge my poer

Sire quaþ þis holyman ich habbe ibe[o] wiþ þe
And þou hast God it ȝulde þe gret god ido me
Ac anoþer baillie ich habbe auonge þei it were aȝen mi wille
And ich ne may noȝt loke boþe bote ich my soule aspille
For ich am to lite worþ þe on forto loke
Þanne dude he gret folie þat me boþe bitoke
Þere fore ich ȝulde up hure al out þe chancelerie
And take me al to Holy Churche to God & seinte Marie

Þo was þe kyng wroþ inou more þanne he euere was
Ac naþeles euere is heorte bar mest upe sein Thomas

Þe þridde þing ȝute mest of alle in contek hom broȝte
A preost þer was a luþer man þat of God lite þoȝte
Þat of manslaȝt was bicluped & inome þeruore also
And in þe bissops prison was of Salesburi ido
Þe mannes frend þat was aslawe siwede uppon him uaste
So þat þe preost to iugement ibroȝt was attelaste

Me acusede him faste of þe dede he ne answerede noȝt þerto
Ac huld him al to Holy Churche and ope non oþer nolde do
Iloked he was to purgi him þoru clergi ȝif he miȝte
And þer of him was a day yset þoru Holy Churches riȝte
Þo þe day him was icome he nemiȝte him purgi noȝt
He was sone ilad aȝen and into prison ibroȝt
Þo was þe bissop in gret doute wat was þerof to done
Forto habbe wisor red to sein Thomas he wende sone

He him sende word aȝen þat he ssolde þe preost take
And disordeiny him of is ordre and a lewed man him make
And suþþe in strong warde him do þat he neuere eft out newende
In penance and in pine inou is sunne forto amende

Þe bissop of Salesburi dude sein Thomas heste

623

So þat þis preost was ibroȝt in tormens wiþ þe meste
So þat þe tiþinge her of to þe kyng com
Þat a luþer þeof and a man quellare hadde so liȝt dom
Him þoȝte þat nas no lawe ne þat nemiȝte noȝt be[o] so
And Phelip de Brois a chanone him hadde eke misdo
Þare fore was ech oþer clerk þe more him aȝen wille
Him þoȝte þat such lawe ssolde pais of londe spille

He wilnede as a god kyng pais of is londe
And in god entente wel to do he dude ich vnderstonde
For þe pais of is londe he wolde holde as vawe
As sein Thomas inis manere Holy Churche to lawe
He sey þat þe deueles lymes þat ycrouned were so
Þat miȝte so allonge day aȝen is pais misdo

For hore iugement was so liȝt þe lasse hi wolde doute
Ac do þufþe and robborye in al is lond aboute
To Westmustre he let somny þe bissops of is londe
And clerkes þe grettest and hexst ich vnderstonde

Beu seignurs he sede inot wat ȝe habbeþ iþoȝt
Ȝif ȝe goþ forþ as ȝe habbeþ ymunt oure pais ne worþ ȝute noȝt
Ȝif a clerk haþ a man aslawe oþer gret þufþe ido
And he mowe be[o] desordeined and to lyue come so
Misdo hi wolde allonge day and þare up be[o] wel bolde
And so ssolde þe pais of þe londe wel vuel be[o] iholde
For wel lite hom wolde recche to leose hare ordre so
Wanne for hare ordre [hi] ne sparieþ þufþe forto do
And euere þe herre hare ordre is me þingþ bi pur lawe
Þe strengore hor dom aȝte be[o] wanne hi wolleþ to þufþe drawe

Sire sire quaþ sein Thomas ȝif it is þi wille
Loþ us were do enyþing þi pais forto aspille
Ac clerkes þat beoþ iordeined þou wost wel bereþ a signe
Þat hi beoþ lymes of Holy Churche þat so worþ is & digne

624

Ȝif hi were þanne wiþ þulke signe to vile deþ ido
Auyled were & assend al Holy Churche so
Ak ȝif hi beoþ ferst desordeined & for þulke sulue dede

Suþþe to deþe þoru dom ibroȝt hit nere noȝt wel to rede
For it nas neuere lawe ne riȝt double dom to take
For on trespas as þou wost wel & sunne it were to make
And vnworþer þanne a lewed man Holi Churche were so
For a lewed man for a trespas nis bote on iugement ido
Þare fore þi grace we bisecheþ ȝif it is þi wille
Þat þou nerere no lawe Holy Churche to spille
For we biddeþ niȝt & day as riȝt is þat we do
For þe and for þi children & for þi kynedom also

Beu sire quaþ þe kyng þo þou seist wel inou
Ich hadde loþ by my concience do Holy Churche wou
Ac lawes þare beoþ & costomes þat habbeþ euere ibe[o] holde
Of bissops þoru al Engelonde as oure auncetres us tolde
And bi þe kynges day Henri þat oure grant sire was
Iconfermed were and iholde þat noman þer aȝen nas
Woltou þulke lawes holde do me to wite sone
We solleþ sire quaþ sein Thomas al þat us is to done
Alle þe lawes & costomes we solleþ holde mid oure miȝte
Þat beoþ to holde & habbeþ ibe[o] sire saue oure riȝte

Saue ȝoure [riȝte] quaþ þe kyng beu sire wy seistou so
I ne ssolde noþing bi þat word aȝen þi wille do
Þat þou nost segge þat it were aȝen Holi Churche riȝte
And so bringe al mi lond in contek and fiȝte
Ac þare wiþ oute hold þe lawes for siker ich vnderstonde
Þat þulke word be[o] uenymous to þe stat of my londe

Sire quaþ þis holyman ne meoue ȝou riȝt noȝt
Wel þou wost þat ech of us ar we were herto ibroȝt
Triwenesse we swore as riȝt was & eorþlich honur also
Saue oure ordre & oure riȝte ac þat was out ido

625

Hou ssolde we nouþe oþer do ȝe ne aȝte us noȝt beode
For Godes loue hold us to riȝte for ȝe nehabbeþ non oþer neode

Ich ise[o] wel Thomas quaþ þe kyng warto þou wolt drawe
Þou ert icome to late forþ to bynyme us oure lawe
Þou wost make me more wrecche þanne eny euere was
Þou ert ycome þer to late þou hast icast ambes as

Þe kyng aros in wraþþe anon and let ham sitte echon
And to is chambre [wende] forþ and ne grette ham noȝt on
Fram Londone he wende sone in wraþþe as þei it were
He ne sede noman of is þoȝt ac bileuede hom alle þere

Þe bissops þoȝte þo echon þat he was wroþ inou
Þare [were fewe bote] sein Thomas þat toward him nedrou
On sein Thomas hi cride vaste is þoȝt forto wende
Oþer he wolde al þat lond wiþ þulke o word ssende
Kniȝtes and oþere ofte come þat wiþ þe kyng were
And bede ententifliche þat he þat word forbere
And him were gret folie þe king in wraþþe brynge
And destourbi al þat lond for so lite þinge

Sein Thomas stod in þoȝte longe leoue breþeren he sede
Neuere aȝen þe kynges onur nel ich do no dede
Ac ech word ichelle bileue þat aȝen is onour is
Þo were þis oþere glad inou þo hi hurde þis
And radde him wende to þe kyng is wraþþe forto stille
Leof ich hadde [quaþ] sein Thomas mid riȝte do is wille

To þe kyng he wende to Oxenford and wiþ him þer he uond
Grete eorles and barons þe hexte of þe lond
Þe kyng him wolcomede so wiþ wel liȝte chere
Bissops he let clupie and eorles þat þare were

Beu freres he sede ich am kyng mid riȝte of þis londe
Costomes þere were biuore yused ich vnderstonde

626

And so muche wrecche nam ich noȝt þat ich nele þe lawes holde
Þat vure auncestre[s] hulde wile as oure conseil us tolde
Þare fore ichelle þat ulke lawes iconfermed be[o] echon
Of myn eorles and myne kniȝtes þat hi ne wiþsegge noȝt on
Þeruore ich hote ȝou echon þat ȝe be[o] þulke day
At my manere at Clarindone wiþoute ech delay
To confermi þulke lawes ope peine þat ichelle sette
Ich hote þat ȝe be[o] þere echon þat noþing ȝe ne lette

So departede þo þis court to is inne ech drou
Ac euere was sein Thomas in care and sorwe inou

Þis bissops and þe baronie come alle to þe daye
To Clarindone in Wiltessire þe kyng forto paye
Þis parlement him was iholde in þe elefþe ȝer
Of þe kynges crounement þat so muche folk broȝte þer

Enleue hondred ȝer and in þe voure and sixti riȝt
It was after oure Louerd þat inis moder was aliȝt
Noble was þis parlement of þis Clarindone
For þere was ferst aforeward þe kyng and is sone
And þe erche bissop of Kanterburi and sire Rogger also

Þe erche bissop of Euerwik were þare boþe two
And sire Gilberd Foliot bissop of Londone
And þe bissop Roberd of Lincolne were alle at Clarindone
And sire Nel bissop of Eoly and þe bissop of Wircestre
Sire Roger & sire Illare bissop of Chichestre
Þe bissop of Salesburi Iocelin and Roberd
Þe bissop of Herford and also sire Richerd
Þat was bissop of Chestre þeos bissops echon
Were at þis grete parlement and eorles manyon

Sire Roberd eorl of Cornwale & þe eorl of Leicestre
Sire Roberd & sire Roger eorl of Gloucestre

627

Sire Conan eorl of Brutaine & Ion eorl of Aungeo
Sire Geffrei eorl de Mandeuile was þere also
Sire Hue eorl of Arondel þat so noble was & fers
Sire Hue eo[r]l of Chestre and sire Willam de Forers

Barons þare were ek manyon sire Willam de Lucy
Sire Reinaud de Warenne & sire Reinaud de Walri
Sire Roger Bigod also sire Richard de Caunvile
Sire Willam de Brewes ek sire Roberd de Dunstauile
Sire Nel de Moubray sire Homfrai de Boun
Sire Symond de Beuchamp louerd of mani a toun
Sire Iocelin [de] Bailol sire Willam de Hasting

Sire Huwe de Morvile so wel was mid þe kyng
Sire Willam Malet sire Ion þe marchal
Sire Symond le Fis Peris gret man þoru out al
Sire Willam Maudut sire Geffrei de Uer
Þeos alle grete louerdlyngs & ȝute wel mo were þer

Nou God helpe sein Thomas for he was al one
Þat wiþsede attelaste þeos louerdlinges echone
Þo hi bigonne þis parlement þe kyng hom esste anon
War hi wolde þe lawe holde þat is auncestres hulde echon

Sire sire quaþ sein Thomas ȝif it þi wille is
Echman mot speke for him sulue & ich for me iwis
For my stat & for Holy Churche ich answerie þertwo
Þat alle þe gode olde lawes and þat ȝute beoþ also
Grante ichelle for Holy Churche forto habbe þin ore
Saue oure ordre and oure riȝte þou ne miȝt esse namore

For þat word þe kyng was wroþ þat gan him euere mislike
Sein Thomas wep inis herte and sore bigan to sike
Al to blody was þat word and deore it was iboȝt
For þere fore to deþe he was attelaste ibroȝt
Þe bissop of Salesburi and of Norþwich also

628

Kneolede wepinge to him þat he ssolde anoþer do

Louerdlings quaþ sein Thomas ich am ȝute ȝong man
And lite wile bissop ibe[o] and þer of lite can
Þare fore of þis olde lawes transcrit ȝe me take
And ichelle þer uppe conceily wuche be[o] to forsake

Þe king him let transcrit take of þis costomes echon
Sein Thomas grantede somme and wiþsede manyon
Þe lawe þat ichelle nou telle he grantede wel vawe
Ȝif a bondeman haþ a sone to clergie idrawe
He ne ssel wiþoute is louerdes leue noȝt icrouned be[o]
For þe man ne may noȝt be[o] ymad wiþoute is louerdes leue [freo]

Anoþer lawe he granted ek þat ȝe mowe nou ise[o]
Ȝif eny man of Holy Churche halt eny lay fe[o]
Parson oþer wat he be[o] he ssel do þare fore
Seruise þat þe kyng biualþ þat is riȝt ne be[o] forlore
In plai stonde in eche place and in iugement also
Bote ware man ssel be[o] bylymed oþer to deþe ido

He grantede ek ȝif enyman þe kynges traitour were
And enyman of is chateus to Holy Churche bere
Þat Holy Churche ne ssolde noȝt þe chateus þere lette
Þat þe kyng wel baldeliche as is owene hom vette
For al þat þe feloun haþ þe kynges it is
And echman mai in Holy Churche is owene vecche iwis

He grantede ek þat a churche of þe kynges fe[o]
In none stude eu[er]e & euere ne ssolde iȝiue be[o]
As to hous of religion wiþoute þe kynges leue
And þat he oþer þe patroun þe uerste ȝift ȝeue

Sein Thomas grantede vawe þeose and oþer mo
Ac þis oþere he wiþsede þat dude him wel wo

Ȝif bitwene tweie lewede men were eny striuinge

629

Oþer bitwene a lewede & a clerk for Holy Churche þinge
As for [v]oueson of churche weþer ssolde þe churche ȝiue
Þe kyng wolde þat inis court þe play ssolde be[o] dryue
For as muche as a lewed man þe on partie was
Clanlich was vnder þe kyng and vnder no bissop nas

Anoþer was þat no byssop ne no clerk noþemo
Ne ssolde wiþoute þe kynges leue out of Engelond go
And þanne hi ssolde swerie hore oþ ope þe bok iwis
Þat hi ne ssolde porchacy non vuel to þe kyng ne non of his

Þe þridde was ȝif enyman in mansinge were ibroȝt
And suþþe come to amendement & aȝen riȝte nere noȝt
Þat he ne swore noȝt ope þe bok ac borwes finde ssolde
To stonde al þat Holy Churche mid lawe him loke wolde

Þe veorþe was þat [no] man þat of þe kyng held oȝt
In chef oþer in eny seruise in mansinge were ibroȝt
Bote þe wardeins of Holy Churche þat broȝte him þertwo
Þe kyng sede oþer is baillifs wat he hadde misdo
And lokede uerst ware hi wolde to amendement it bringe
And bote hi wolde bi hore leue do þanne þe mansinge

Þe vifte was þat bissopriches and abbeis also
Þat vacans were of prelat in þe kynges hond were ido
And þat þe kyng ssolde al þat lond as is owe take
For[te] attelaste þat him luste eny prelat þare make
And þanne þulke prelat ssolde inis chapel ichose be[o]
Of is clerkes wuch he wolde to such prelat bise[o]
And þanne wanne he were ichose inis chapel riȝt þere
Omage he ssolde him do ar he iconfermed were

Þe sixte was ȝif eny ple in chapitre were idrawe
And enyman made is apel ȝif me dude him vnlawe
Þat to bissop fram ercedekne is apel ssolde make
And fram þe bissop to þe erchebissops court & suþþe non herre take
And bote þe erche bissop to riȝte him wolde bringe

630

Þat he ssolde fram þulke court biclupe to þe kynge
And fram þe king non herre mo so þat attenende
Plaidinge of Holy Churche to þe kyng ssolde wende
And þe king amende ssolde þe erchebissops dede
And be[o] as in þe popes stude ac sein Thomas it wiþsede

Þe seueþe was þat pleidinge þat of dette were
To ȝulde wel þoru truþe ipliȝt and noȝt iholde nere
Al þei þoru truþe it were þe ple ssolde be[o] ibroȝt
Biuore þe king and his baillifs and to Holy Churche noȝt

Þe eiȝteþe was þat in þe londe citacion non nere
Þoru bulle of þe pope of Rome ac clanlich bileued were

Þe niþe was þat Petres panes þat me gadereþ manyon
Þe pope nere noȝt isend ak þe kyng echon

Þe teoþe was ȝif eny clerk as felon were itake
And for feloun iproued ek and nemiȝte it noȝt forsake
Þat me ssolde uerst desordeiny & suþþe þoru pur lawe
And þoru iugement of þe lond bring him of lif dawe

Þe kyng þeose lawes pulte forþ and monie oþer anon
And het þoru out al is lond þat me ham helde echon
Þis was biuore Candelmasse þe veorþe day ido
Þe kyng het sein Thomas anon and þe oþer bissops also
On þis chartre sette hore sel þat non after tale nere
Þat þoru al is lond þe costome iholde were

Sire sire quaþ sein Thomas for Godes loue þin ore
To conseili bet ȝif us leue ar we speke more
So þat respit was inome and eche wende inis side
Sein Thomas nom is transcrit and nolde noleng abide
To Winchestre he wende þanne wiþ sorwe inou
Hou he miȝte Holy Churche ssulde fram þis wou
Wanne oþer men were aslepe he wep & siȝte sore
He bad God helpe Holy Churche & cride milce & ore

He sai þer nas bote o wey oþer he moste stif be[o]
Oþer Holy Churche were byneþe þat mid riȝte was so fre[o]
Carfol he was and sori þat he tok on so

631

Forto entri into answere þare he ne ssolde noȝt do
Þat he aueng þe transcrit and respit hadde ibede
For him þoȝte al Holy Churche he misdude in þulke stude
For Holy Churche ne ssolde noȝt in no stude stonde to dome

Ne answere king ne prince bote þe pope of Rome
Þe deol þat sein Thomas made no tonge telle ne may
Louerd he sede alas alas þat ich euere isay þis day
Þat ich þe warde of Holy Churche so folliche ssolde take
And so ffre as he[o] was er so þeu hure nou make

He[o] þat was so hei and fre[o] by mine auncestres daye
Þat ich ssolde byneþe bringe alas and so bitraie
For þis martirs þat wile were for hure to deþe ido
And he[o] is þeu þoru me imad alas wi dude ich so
Vnworþe icham al Holy Churche wardein forto be[o]
And as vnworþe þerto inome as echman may ise[o]
For inam and riȝt were fram non ordre inome

Ac fram kynges court to Holy Churche þat uuel wole bycome

Of houndes ich was and haukes wardein wiþ þe kyng
And wardein am of soulen nou þat ne veiþ noþing
Ich þat forsok myn owe soule þe wile ich was chanceler
So mony soule habbe to loke alas wat ssolde ich her
Ich doute God me haþ forsake hou tok ich on alas
Þat deol þat made þis holyman wiþoute ende was
He wep and siȝte niȝt and day he huld him al forlore
Ȝif he miȝte asoiled be[o] to þe pope he þoȝte þare fore
He wende toward Kanterburi sone þe kyng me tolde
Þat þe erchebissop nolde noȝt is status holde

Þe kyng het is baillifs and sende aboute is sonde
Forto greuy sein Thomas ouer al up is londe
Þe baillifs were þo prest inou and ope is maners wel uaste
Nome is bode and greuede him and wende þer wiþ agaste
Sein Thomas let al iworþe and ope God is heorte caste
And wende him wel priueliche biniȝte attelaste

632

Toward þe se toward Rome þat non of his men it nuste
Bote tweie þat he tok wiþ him þat is priuete mest wuste

Suþþe þo is men him miste and nuste ware he bicom
And hi seie hi were louerdles ech is red nom
Forto do euerich is beste ech wende inis side
As men þat were louerdles hy nuste wat abide

Þis holyman him wende forþ him dude in þe ssip sone
And wende him forþ toward þe se as he þoȝte to done
Þe wind com as God it wolde and drof him aȝe to londe
Suþþe he wende eft in þe se þe passage to fonde
Þe wind him drof efsone aȝen and eft in he wende
Euere he was aȝen idriue as oure Louerd þe grace sende

Þo sai wel þis holyman þat it nas noȝt Godes wille
Þat he þe ȝute of londe wende he turnde aȝe wel stille
On of is sergans sat a niȝt þe wile þat men woke
Inis chambre at Kanterburi is chambre forto loke
In þe euenyng he het is knaue to steke þe dore faste
Þe knaue ȝeode toward þe dore and is eiȝen aboute caste
Þo sey he sein Thomas in an hurne stonde
He orn and tolde his louerd fore and þonkede Godes sonde

Þe sergant ne luuede it noȝt ac naþeles up he aros
And fond sein Thomas in þis heorne somdel him agros
Þer was sone ioie and blis his folk to him drou
And wolcomede him and made feste wiþ ioie & blisse inou

Hi sette bord and spradde cloþ and gonne to soupe faste
Sein Thomas wel mildeliche tolde ham attelaste
Woder he þoȝte habbe iwend and wuch cas God him sende
And hou it was Godes wille þat he þe ȝute wende

Þe tyþinge com to þe kynge þat þis godeman sein Thomas
Aȝen þe status of Clarindone of londe iwend was
For þe status was þat no bissop ne ssolde by non ende
Wiþoute leue of þe kyng out of þe londe wende

633

Þe kyng sende his men anon to saisi al is lond
And þe erchebissopriche also as is traitour inis hond
Þe baillifs come to Kanterburi as hi ihote were
Þo hi wende habbe al hore wille hi fonde sein Thomas þere
Noþing nemiȝte hi seisi þo hore wei hi hadde forlore
As hi come hi wende aȝen and tolde þe kyng fore

Ȝute sein Thomas þoȝte eft forto fondi more
Ȝif he miȝte habbe of þe kyng betere milce & ore
He ȝarkede him wel mildeliche and to him þe wey nom
He fond him at Wodestoke and to him þuder he com
As is eorþliche louerd he grette him faire inou
Þe king bihuld him al an hoker and ascorn somdel lou

Thomas he sede hou geþ þis be[o] we so grete fon
Þat we nemowe wonie in none londe hou ssel þis Thomas gon

Sire sire quaþ sein Thomas so ne ssolde it neuere be[o]
Ac God sende Holy Churche betere grace to þe[o]
And sende þe wille to louie hure bet & God for is miȝte
Lete me neuere aȝen þi wille do þing wiþ vnriȝte

Þe erche bissop of Euerwik fondede forto bringe
Acordaunt loue bi is poer bitwene sein Thomas & þe kynge

Þe kyng swor anon is oþ þat non oþer acorde nolde
Bote þe status of Clarindone ech bissop holde wolde
And nameliche þeos biuore alle oþere ȝif a clerk hadde misdo
And for felon ypreoued were and for þeof also
Þat me ssolde desordeiny and suþþe anon þoru lawe
Þe kynges baillifs deliueri him to honge oþer to drawe

Sein Thomas isei wel þo þat þer nas wei bote on
Þat he moste stif wiþstonde oþer is riȝtes forgon
He þoȝte þat Holy Churche he nolde neuere bitraye

634

And þat he nolde neuere in such seruage hure bringe bi is daye
Raþer he wolde [as] oþer were to martirdom be ido
Þane Holy Churche were so bineþe iredi he was þerto
Neuere ne miȝte þe kyng and he acordi noþing þer
Ac departede al in wraþþe as hi ofte dude er

Þe kyng made him wroþ inou þat so ofte in bar[et] was
For o man þat wiþ him sede and non oþer aȝen him nas
In grete wraþþe he swor is oþ he wolde of him be[o] awreke
And þat sein Thomas ssolde anoþer wiþ him speke
He let somni sein Thomas þe nexte Tiwesday þat were
Biuore sein Lukes day at Norhamtone to answere þere
And alle þe bissops of þe lond and þe baronie also
He het be[o] þere þulke day is heste forto do

Sein Thomas is londes ek inis hond is men nome
As to destreini him þat he to is court come
Nou God helpe sein Thomas for oþer frend naþ he non
Among so many tirans to come þat were is fon
Bodi and soule he bitok Iesus Godes sone
And to is day isomned wende to Norhamtone
In þe castel sat þis court of þis tirans echon
Þis holyman a Godes name among hom wende anon

Sire king he sede God þe loke and saue þi dignete
Somens ich hadde at þis daie here to answerie þe
Ac erche bissop of Kanterburi nas neuere isomned so
Ne so destreined of no kyng inot wat þou þengst do
Inot wat is þe niwe lawe þat þou wolt forþ drawe
Bote it be[o] of Clarindone þat þou þengst bringe to lawe
On me nastou power non such destresse [to] do

Imad ich am Holi Churche heued þei ich vnworþe be[o] þerto

635

Þi gostliche fader ich am þei þou of me lite lete
Hit nas neuere ordre þat þe sone þe uader ssolde bete
Ne þat þe deciple bet is maister al þis were aȝen lawe
Al þis wo so riȝt bihalt þou biginst forþ drawe
And þis bissops also god þat wardeins beoþ mid me
To holde up þe honur of Holy Churche & þe dignete
Beoþ aboute hure to ssende and bring hure in vilte
Sire kyng God ȝiue al Holy Churche betere grace to þe
Ȝif þou wolt oȝt toward me þou wost i nemay noȝt fiȝte
Ȝare ich am þane deþ auonge for Holy Churche riȝte

Inelle noman quaþ þe kyng for Holi Churche quelle
Beu sire þou spexst as a fol anoþer þou sselt telle
Com to morwe bi speche tyme þat þou þe day ne breke
And answere me of oþer þing þat ichelle to þe speke

Þus departede þo þe court amorwe þane Friday
Sein Thomas wende þuder aȝen þo he þe tyme isay
Þe king sat anhei inis ce and acoupede him wel faste
Þou were he sede my chanceler ac al to longe it laste
Ich lenede þe þo an hondred pound ac [þ]ou ne ȝoulde me noȝt on
Sete me þer of a ssort day for þou sselt is ȝulde echon

Sire quaþ sein Thomas God sende us bet þin ore
I ne wende noȝt of þulke panes hure acountes more
For ich hadde þulke tyme betere grace of inou
Of þe þanne ich habbe nou and þat me þingþ wiþ wou
Gode grace ich hadde þo to þe þou lenedest me inou þo
And þulke panes þou ȝeue me and wost ȝute wel mo
Wel ich am þerof iknowe þat ich am aueng of þe
And of þi ȝifte wiþ gode heorte for siker þou ȝeue me
And so hei man as þou ert it miȝte wel be[o] stille
To axi þing þat þou ȝeue er mid so gode wille

Þe kyng him esste ȝif enyman þulke þinge isay
And ware he miȝte þe ȝifte preoue & he sede nay
Nou louerdlinges quaþ þe kyng ȝe hureþ wel al þis
Of þe gerison he is iknowe þat ich him bitok iwis

636

Ac þe ȝifte nemay he preoue noȝt as ȝe moweþ alle ise[o]
Iugement ich esse of þis court hou it ssel þerof be[o]

Þe court him lokede as he was iknowe of þe þing
And nemiȝte noȝt þe ȝifte preoue to ȝulde eche ferþing

Þe kyng him het ȝulde ech peny oþer sikernesse him make
Oþer is marchals anon uaste is body to prison take
Sein Thomas of is bissopriche hadde wel lite god
Ac helples among is fon wiþoute conseil he stod

Þe marchals iredi were to prison him lede anon
Hy hete him do sikernesse oþer he ssolde wiþ hom gon

Þis holyman nuste oþer red bote soffre al hore wou
Somme godemen þer þat [stode ] hadde of him ruþe inou
Vif kniȝtes nome hom to rede & wende hom to þe kynge
And nome an hond for sein Thomas of alle þulke þinge
Ech of hom an hondred pount for þis holyman to paie
Þo was he al quit inou as to þulke daye

Amorwe þe Wendesday to court efsone hi wende
Forto hure þe kynges wille hore heorte forto amende

Þe kyng sat adoun inis ce sein Thomas byuore him stod
Bel amy þou hast quaþ þe kyng ystole muche god
To longe þou were my chanceler and haddest in þin hond
Abbeis and bissopriches and muche del of my lond
And me ȝoulde þer of non aconte þat reweþ me wel sore
Þer of þritty þousond pound þou sselt me and wel more
Þare fore make þe ȝare anon þine acountes to ȝeolde
For siker þou be[o] þou sselt it do ȝif ich þe may awelde
Alle þat hurde þis demande in gret wonder stod þer
And sede among hom ech to oþer þat hy ne hurde it neuer er
And þat sein Thomas was al byne[þe] þat he ope þe pointe was
To b[eo] icast in prison and non oþer wey þer nas

637

Sein Thomas stod in þoȝte longe of þat þe kyng hadde ised
And bad he him moste conseily and þerof nyme is red
Þe bissops he nom to conseil þe kyng ne wernede him noȝt
In a chambre fast iloke alle hi were ibroȝt
Þat hi nessolde ofscapie noȝt ar hi responce sede
Nou louerdlinges quaþ sein Thomas her of ȝe mote me rede
For so God me bringe out of care inabbe þer of gult non
Ac me to ssende he askeþ hom mid vnriȝt echon
For ich was wiþ him er wel inou þat bringeþ me nou in teone
And þerfore ne tok ich no witnesse of þat was us bitwene

Þe bissop Henri of Wynchestre ferst bigan to rede
Sire he sede þus me þingþ þou miȝt do of þis dede
Þou miȝt segge þat þulke tyme þat þou were wiþ þe kyng
And þo þou wendest of þi baillie he neaskede þe noþing
And þou auonge þe erche bissopriche so clene and so fre[o]
Þat þou of non oþer þinge ne ssost icharged be[o]
And he quaþ þe quiȝt al clanliche of ech oþer cure þer
Ne esse þe noþing of no dede þat þou haddest idon er
Ware þoru þe þingþ of noþing þou ne sselt answere noȝt
Bote to wardi wel Holy Churche of alle oþer cure þou ert ibroȝt

Þe bissop Gilberd of Londone sede þo is auys
Sire he sede ȝif þou þingst as godman ssel and wys
Wat god þe kyng þe haþ ido and in wuche poer ibroȝt
And hou lite god þer wol come of so wonder þoȝt
And in wuche wo þou bringst us alle & Holy Churche also
And peril of þin owe body bote þou is wille do
Ȝif þou al þis vnderstode me þincþ wel iwis
Þat þou wost fondi him to paie and elles þou dust amis

638

Þo seide þe bissop of Wircestre sire Gilberd be[o] stille
Wy suspendest such conceil for it nis noȝt worþ a uille
Ȝif þe erchebissop ssolde abowe al to þe kynges wille
Þe riȝtes he ssolde of Holy Churche aneþeri & aspille

Þe bissop Illare of Chichestre bigan to speke þo
Sire he sede my conseil is hou so it euere go
In faire manere to fondy to paie þe kynges wille
Mid faire biheste forte efsone þat it were somdel stille
Þanne we miȝte wanne he were of þis distresse ibroȝt
Þe bet cheue of oure conseil for nou ne do we noȝt

Þe bissop Roberd of Lyncolne radde wel þertwo
Sire Thomas he sede for Gode þou most it do
Oþer þou leost þi bissopriche and par auenture þi lif
And þanne þou biȝute lite me þingþ of þi strif

Þe bissop Bartelmeu of Excetre bigan to segge is þoȝt
In al þe sorwe of þe world & care we beoþ ibroȝt
Betere it were þat on heued in peril him broȝte
Þanne Holy Churche were bineþe and ibroȝt al to noȝte

Þe bissop Rogger of Wircestre longe in þoȝte stod
Inelle he sede on ne oþer for inot wat is god
Ȝif ich rede forto be[o] al to þe kynges wille
Min owe mouþ my sulf demeþ al Holy Churche to spille
And ȝif ich rede aȝen him be[o] in þis place som is
Þat wolde telle þe king fore & make him my fo iwis
Bi þe bissop of Londone þulke word he sede
Þat aȝen sein Thomas euere was mid worde & mid dede
Þare fore he sede on ne oþer inelle segge iwis
God conseil God us ȝiue for al neod it is

Hy alle ne couþe þis conseil bringe to god ende
Ne deuisi hou hi miȝte best out of þe chambre wende
Attelaste ope sein Thomas þis conseil moste gon
Tweie eorles of þe kynges hous he let clupie anon
We habbeþ he sede louerdlinges ispeke of þis þinge
And as uer forþ as we mowe mid riȝte we wilneþ paie þe kynge

639

Ac for we nabbeþ noȝt iredi her oure conseil al clene
Forte þe nexte day we biddeþ ferst þat ȝe grante us ene

So þat respit was igranted and ech wende inis weie
Monie of sein Thomas is men bileuede him for eiȝe
And kniȝtes þat were ek wiþ him al fram ward him drowe
Sein Thomas nom bi þe wey pouere men inowe
And ladde wiþ him to is in and to þe mete hom sette
And seruede hom is owe body and mete inou ham vette
Þis beoþ he sede Godes kniȝtes oþer men me habbeþ forsake
Þeose kniȝtes ich louie more to hom ichelle take

Þe Sonedai þer nas no court iholde for þe day
Þe Moneday sein Thomas wel sore sik lay
In þe vuel of maudeflank þat to him ofte com
And for þe care þat he was inne wel þe wors it him nom
Me sede þat he made him sik for he ne dorste noȝt forþ wende
Þe kyng in gret wraþþe inou after him let sende

Wel ȝe seoþ quaþ sein Thomas þat i nemay come noȝt
Ac certes to morwe ichelle hou so ich þuder be[o] broȝt
Þei ich ssolde be[o] þuder ibore in barwe oþer in bere
Þuder ichelle þoru Godes grace God be[o] min help þere

Amorwe þe Tiwesday oure Louerd him gan arere
Þe morwe after sein Lukes day as it fel in þe ȝere
Þulke day he aȝte vnderstonde as mony anoþer also
For bi costome al is gret anuy bi Tywesdai com him two

Alle þe bissops þane Tywesday erlich to him wende
Sire hi sede in vuel point þou ert God þe amende
We habbeþ oure red þerof inome & mid one mouþ echon
We redeþ þe to paie þe kyng hou so it euere gon
Oþer he þe wole bere an hond þat þou ert is traitour
And forswore wanne þou him swore to don him eor[þ]liche honur
Ac ne dest him nou onur ac tricherie as he þe wole bere an hond

640

And bynime þi stat & bi cas driue þe of is lond

Mi leoue breþeren quaþ sein Thomas ȝe seoþ wel echon
Þat al þe worle gret on me one & alle myne fon
And is mest reuþe ȝute of alle ȝe þat mine breþeren beoþ
And me þei ich sunfol be[o] ȝoure fader in torment iseoþ
And beoþ mine meste fon of alle and also beoþ al ȝare
In seculer court to deme me and it nolde noȝt wel fare
For ȝe habbeþ in þis tweie dawes þat bispeke ilome
Nou God helpe Holy Churche and take þerto gome

Ac in obedience ich ȝou hote þat [ȝe] þer ney ne be[o]
Ȝif ich am ibroȝt to iugement ac ȝe raþer fle[o]
And enyman hond on me sette ich [ȝou] hote also
Þat [ȝ]e sentence of Holy Churche for such violence do
And holdeþ op þe riȝtes of Holi Churche þat ȝou is bitake
For i nessel for no drede of deþ hure riȝte forsake

Þe bissops were þo wroþ inou & wende to court echone
Nou God helpe þis selyman for he was þo al one
Bote þe bissop of Wynchestre þare ne leuede mid him non
And þe bissop of Salesburi þat nere alle fram him agon

Sein Thomas triste al to God and greiþede him anon
And song a masse of seinte Steuene ar he come among is fon
He song after þulke masse for as he doþ byginne
Þer ferste offis was propre inou to þe stat þat he was inne

Þe bygynnynge of þulke masse an Englis is þis
For wanne princes habbeþ isete & aȝen me ispeke iwis
And luþer men porsuede me Louerd min help þou be[o]
Mony sede þat þis ihurde nou we mowe ise[o]
Þat he singþ þe masse for þe none for þe kyng & for his

641

And þat [he] halt hom al luþer men þat aȝen him specþ iwis

Þis word com to court sone ware þoru hi were echon
In þe more angwisse aȝen him and þe more is fon
And somme of þe kynges conseillers to him ofte wende
And sede bote he held him stif al is lond he ssende
Ȝif he grantede sein Thomas at þulke tyme is wille

Is poer inis owe lond nere neuere eft worþ a uille
Bote lete þe clergie al iworþe & hold him sulf stille
And clerkes diȝte al is owe lond and þe reume aspille
And attelaste bi hare owe wille make kyng and cheose
And so ssolde ech kyng after him is franchise leose
Þare fore he moste him wel biþenche & ne flecchi noȝt
Such wordes and many oþere apeirede ofte is þoȝt

Þo sein Thomas hadde is masse ido is chesible he gan of weue
Ac alle þe oþere vestemens he let on him bileue
Oþer armure nadde he non for Holy Churche to fiȝte
Anouward he caste is clerkes cope þat fel him to riȝte
Godes fleiss he tok and is blod wiþ him stilleliche
A crois he nom inis hond and wende forþ baldeliche
Þe vestemens [were] is armure as fel to suche kniȝte
Þe crois was is baner for Holy Churche to fiȝte

Forþ wende þis gode kniȝt among al is fon
Nou swete Iesus be[o] is help for oþer frend naþ he non
Þe crois he bar inis hond and arerede is baner
Þe bissop Robe[r]d of Hereford wende anon him ner

Sire he sede ich crie þin ore þi chapelein make þou me
Biuore þe lete me bere þi crois for it ne falþ noȝt þe

Þe wile ich is bere quaþ sein Thomas and þe fourme ise[o]
I ne douti of noman þe hardiore ich may be[o]

Þo sede þe bissop of Londone þat euere was is fo
I ne rede noȝt þat þou so byuore þe kynge go
For wraþþi he wolde him anon & awreke him in þe place
Ich take me quaþ sein Thomas al to Godes grace

642

Ȝe al þi lyf quaþ þis oþer a fol þou hast ybe[o]
And þat neltou neuere bileue as me may here ise[o]

Sein Thomas þus wiþ þis crois in to þis court gan gon
Þo þe kyng him sei come so he wraþþede him anon

Louerdlynges he sede here ȝe seoþ hou þis man me schend
In wuche manere is he here in to þis court among us iwend
As ich ne biluuede noȝt in Cristendom ne in oure Louerdes name
Ne mot ich nede awreke me ne deþ he me gret ssame

Þo sede al þe court anon sire ȝe mowe ise[o]
Þat he is prout and contekour and euere haþ ibe[o]
And in despit of þe and þine þis dede he haþ ido
And ȝif þou wolt þou miȝt be[o] iwar to take eft on so
To bringe in so gret poer such as he is
To be[o] þin hexte of þi londe as þou madest him iwis
Þere fore we nemeneþ þe noȝt for þou nost beo iwar biuore
Ac we seggeþ by him echon þat he is purliche forswore
And as bi such man do by him as bi on of þi fon
For he þe swor eorþliche honur and he ne deþ þe non

Þe bedeles and þe oþer schrewene grennede on him uaste
And abide euere þe kynges heste in prison him to caste
Þe king let crie anon aboute ȝif eny so wod were
Þat were at sein Thomas conseil oþer companie him bere
Þat as þe kinges traitour me ssolde him nyme anon
Nou swete Iesus be[o] is help among al is fon

Þe bissop of Excetre to sein Thomas fel akne[o]
Merci he sede for Godes loue for sorwe þou miȝt ise[o]
Haue reuþe of þe and of us oþer þou wolt us alle ssende
We worþe al ybroȝt to noȝt bote þou þi þoȝt wende

Sire bissop quaþ sein Thomas þou miȝt as wel be[o] stille
Go hanne of þe nekepe ich noȝt do echman is wille

Þe bissops wende togadere alle and hore conseil nome
And þo hy hadde hore forme iset to þe kyng hi come

Sire hi seide we beoþ anuyd and ofþencheþ sore

643

Forȝif us þat ȝe on us bereþ & we nesolleþ misdo namore
Wel we witeþ þat þis wrecche þat ssolde oure chef be[o]
Fals he is and forswore and þat may echman yse[o]
For he swor to holde þe eorþliche honur and he haþ ibroke is oþ
And þat we ssolleþ prouy wel ȝif ȝe nolleþ noȝt be[o] wroþ
For ȝif us þi wraþþe we þe biddeþ and we ssolleþ to Rome wende
To bynime is erche bissopriche and as a wrecche him ssende
Forswore we wolleþ him proue sire bi ȝoure rede
Þe kyng bihet hom gret honur to don þulke dede

To sein Thomas þer he was hi wende alle anon
Þe bissop of Chichestre tolde for ham echon
Sire he sede oure gostliche uader þou were here byuore
Ac for uader we forsakeþ þe for þou ert fals & forswore
For þou swore þe kyng eorþlich honur & nelt him do non

Þarefore to þe court of Rome we biclupeþ þe echon
To answere us tofore þe pope of þat þou hast ido amys
Louerdlinges quaþ þis holyman ich hure wel al þis
Nou swete Iesus beo is frend wanne all oþere beoþ is fon
Þe kyng him let clupie faste þat he come forþ anon
Þe eorl Roberd of Leicestre and oþere manyon
Come after him and het him sone byuore þe kyng gon

Louerdlinges quaþ sein Thomas ȝe witeþ wel echon
Hou wel ich was wiþ þe kyng þei ich habbe nou luþer won
Erche bissop he made me to soþe aȝen my wille
For euer ich dradde for vnco[nn]ynge my soule forto aspille
Þo esste ich byuore al þat folk in wuch manere he me toke
Þe maistrie of Holy Churche to warde and to loke
He me bitok þo Holy Churche in ech manere so fre[o]

To be[o] quit of al oþer court as wiþ riȝte ssolde be[o]

644

And wanne Holy Churche is so fre[o] inelle answere þe kynge
Ne non oþer inis court of non eorþlich þynge
For led nepasseþ noȝt so muche in bounte as gold iwis
For þe dignete of preost herre þanne lewed is
And is gostliche fader ich am ȝif he wolde nyme ȝeme
Hit is no lawe þat þe sone þe fader ssolde deme
Þare fore ich segge at o word inelle me noþing take
To iugement of kniȝtes court ac outliche it forsake

And take me al to Holy Churche and to non eor[þ]lich dome
And biclupie to fore ȝou alle to þe court of Rome
Saue þe stat of Holy Churche and my dignete
Þat Iesu Crist it saue wel wanne it ne may noȝt þoru me
And ȝou bissops ich biclupie to þe court of Rome also
Þat ȝe honureþ more an eor[þ]lych kyng þanne ȝe God almiȝti do
And so þoru riȝte of Holy Churche out of þis court ich wende
To bringe þis cause of Holy Churche byuore þe pope to ende
Þis holyman wel mildeliche out of þis court gan gon

Þe kyng and al þat mid him was wraþþede ham anon
Hi cride on þis holyman and belwede echon
Mid as gret noise as al þe toun biset were mid hore fon
Hy ne miȝte make more cri þei al þe toun were afure
Þanne hi dude upe þis holyman þat deol it was to hure
Nou God almiȝti be[o] is help for [he] hadde þere lite rewe
For in al is lif he hadde gode dawes vewe

Forþ him wende sein Thomas as him noþing ne roȝte
For more me ssende Iesu Crist þo me him to deþe broȝte

645

He werþ up is palfrei and to is in wende so
Vnneþe he miȝte wiþ is honde þeos þreo þinges do
Blessy þat folk & bere is crois and is bridel wisse
Þe simple uolk orn him aboute wiþ ioie inou & blisse
For hi wende wel h[e] hadde ibe[o] at court faste inome
Hi herede alle Iesu Crist þat he moste among hom come

To is in at seint Andrewes hy siwede faste inou
Alle þe pouere men mid him to þe mete he drou
And sede comeþ here uorþ mid me for myne frendes ȝe beoþ
Inabbe non oþer frendes þanne ȝou as alle men iseoþ
He let hom vede echone wel for al is hous ney
And him sulf þe gladdore was þat he hom ysey

As sein Thomas sat atte mete þei he no wille nadde
Þis word þat oure Louerd het his redare touore him radde
Ȝif me porsuwede ȝou in o toun into anoþer ȝe vle[o]
Þis holyman þoȝte by him þis word miȝte wel be[o]
And it was Godes wille into anoþer lond to gon
A man as þe gospel seiþ forto fleo is fon
Þe hardiore he was þo of londe forto wende
Wanne he miȝte ofscapie wel & God wolde þe tyme sende

Þo it was toward þan eue tweie sergans come
Sore wepinge & warnede him þat he som red nome
For þe kynges men hadde iswore þoru heste of þe kynge
War so hi him finde miȝte to stronge deþe brynge

University of Virginia Library