in which we quite went along with her. Certain it is that the bishops most indiscreetly ordain many persons without titles, who, in consequence, are poor and ready for any thing that is bad. Moreover a single cleric sometimes monopolizes four, or even seven prebends; whereas the sacred canons manifestly prohibit the joint holding of even two. It occurs to one at once, how many disputes about presentation have arisen from this single bad custom. The Empress alluded to the case of Richard de Ivelchester. Yet in this matter the conduct of the bishops to their relations, and of the laity to their dependents, will scarce allow them to find any very clamorous fault. Again, the great fines which the bishops levy on those who come to them for absolution, are quite unsanctioned by the canons.

Since then it is from these and similar causes that disturbances really arise in the church, it is greatly to be wondered why the axe is not laid to the root of the tree rather than to its branches. It is the will of God that from such a tree we should reap bitter fruits. Wherefore, as you love the church, for God's sake, shew by your words and deeds that these abuses are no part of the system which you uphold; and when you write again to our lady, the Empress, let her know your mind on this point.

We assure your Lordship that, in writing the above, we have been guided only by the love of right, and of our soul's good; if we have spoken foolishly, pardon us. Keep this communication a secret. We could not send earlier; as soon as ever we had read the Constitutions to the Empress, we made all haste to write. We now entreat you particularly to send us early information how you fare, and what are your intentions. Whatever you direct we will accomplish faithfully. We again ask pardon, both for our prolixity and presumption.*

XVIII. NICHOLAS OF ROUEN TO THE ARCHBISHOP.

We are both of us unspeakably annoyed at having been prevented up to this time from coming to your Lordship, but the reasons are many and great. We are so deeply in debt, particularly for the house we purchased last year, that, from our inability to raise the sum, we are forced every day to go to the city, and beg for a further delay of the payment. We are in another strait too, in consequence of the king's holding court at Rouen, for if we were to absent ourselves we dread detection.

It is a hard word, and odious in his ears, when any one mentions your Lordship's name; nor is there any one who dares to speak well of you, or even to speak at all in his presence. Your Lordship, however, knows much better than we do, in what a strait he is placed, and how resourceless he finds himself. On one side the king of France is his adversary; on another the people of Poictiers alarm him; and on another the Welch.-And what wonder if he who is not protected by the church finds an enemy in every one.

However, if an opportunity offers, one or other of us, either I or M. Herbert, will find our way to your Lordship, and bring full information of all that happens in the interval. In the mean time know for certain, that any terms will readily be acceded to which the king of France may think fit to offer.† May your Holiness fare well!

Things were in this position when the critical Easter arrived; and not ten days after the Pope issued the following peremptory mandate :

Ep. D. T., 53.

+ Ep. D. T., 46.

April 24, 1166; after which the Pope had allowed the archbishop to exercise any powers he pleased. cf. xvi.

THE POPE TO THE BISHOPS OF THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY.

Alexander Papa Londoniensi, et omnibus Episcopis Cantiæ Provinciæ.

To resist oppression and injustice appertains in all cases to our holy office; but more especially in those cases where the oppressed are clergy, and when it is the cause of the church for which they suffer. In the present instance, the sufferings of the clergy of Canterbury in behalf of their lord, our venerable brother the archbishop, can scarcely be unknown to you who have witnessed them in person. And now inasmuch as it is unfitting that because they have been driven away with violence they should also be deprived of their benefices, we charge you, that all those who in the absence of the said clergy have, under the royal mandate, taken possession of their benefices, be forthwith compelled, under the threat of excommunication, and without the benefit of appeal, to make thorough and immediate restitution.

In executing this commission you will do well to shew yourselves neither remiss nor luke-warm.

Given at our Palace of the Lateran, May 3, 1166.*

This mandate of the Pope's was promptly followed up by the Archbishop.

XIX. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY TO THE KING OF ENGLAND.

Thomas Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus, Henrico Regi Anglia. [sine salutationet]

I have very earnestly desired to meet your Majesty in person, and to converse with you. I have desired it greatly for my own sake, but far more for the sake of your Majesty.

As to myself, I hoped that the sight of me might recall to your mind the zealous and faithful services which I have before now rendered you, according to the best of my conscience, (so help me God, at the last day when we shall all stand before his throne to receive according to the deeds we have done in the body.) I hoped that when you saw me, who am now forced to beg my bread among strangers, you might at least be touched by some feeling of kindness. And yet, by the grace of God, I have a sufficiency, and am comforted in the words of the apostle, that "all that will live a godly life shall suffer persecution." But for your Majesty's sake I was much more anxious. You are my liege lord, and as such I owe you my counsels: you are my son in the Spirit, and I am bound to chasten and correct you.

He proceeds to shew the king his own view of the relations between church and state, and then continues

Since the craving your Majesty's pardon, it is certain that the power of kings is given them through the church, but not that of the church through kings; your Majesty can have no pretence for compelling the Bishops either to absolve or excommunicate; for summoning the clergy before secular courts; for interfering with tithes or presentations; for prohibiting the trial of perjury in the Bishop's court; and many other things of like nature contained among the usages which you are pleased to call traditional.

"Keep my laws," saith the Lord. And again, "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed,

to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people.'

Let my Lord, therefore, if it please him, listen to the counsels of his subject, to the warnings of his Bishop, and to the chastisements of his Father. And first, let him for the future abstain from all communion with schismatics. It is known almost to the whole world with what devotion your Majesty formerly received our Lord the Pope, and what attachment you shewed to the see of Rome: and also, what respect and deference were shewn you in return. Forbear then, my Lord, as you value your soul, to withdraw from that see its just rights. Remember, moreover, the profession which you made to my predecessor at your coronation, and which you deposited in writing upon the altar at Westminster, respecting the rights and liberties of the church in England.——Be pleased also to restore to the see of Canterbury, from which you received your consecration, the rank which it held in the time of your predecessor and mine, together with all its possessions, its villages, castles, and farms, and whatever else has been taken by violence, either from myself or my dependants, lay as well as clerical. And farther, to allow us to return in peace and quietness to the free discharge of our duties.

Should your Majesty be pleased to act in this manner, you will find me prepared to serve you as a beloved Lord and King, faithfully and devotedly, with all my might, in whatsoever I am able,—saving the honour of God and of the Roman church, and saving my order.

BUT OTHERWISE, KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT YOU SHALL FEEL THE VENGEANCE OF GOD.‡

XX. THE ARCHBISHOP TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF HIS PROVINCE. Thomas, Dei gratiâ, Cantuariensis Ecclesiæ Minister humilis, venerabilibus Fratribus Cantiæ Provinciæ Episcopis universis, salutem.

WE who are called High Priests and Bishops, if we wish to understand the true import of our titles, and care to be what our name professes, should with continued earnestness both consider and imitate His steps who, being made by God a High Priest for ever, hath offered up himself for us upon the altar of the cross, and who now from his dwelling on high is looking down continually on the deeds and thoughts of men, for which he will one day call every one to a strict account. His vicars upon earth we are; we have succeeded to those high places in the church which apostles and men apostolical have filled before us; and to our ministry is committed the destruction of the empire of sin and death, and the building up in faith and good works of a holy temple to the Lord. And truly we are many who have vowed at our consecration, and daily renew our promise to feed and teach Christ's flock with zeal and diligence, would that our deeds bore testimony to the sincerity of our profession. The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are not sufficient to gather it.

In the kingdom of England more especially we grieve to observe the many daring encroachments which are practised against the prerogative of St. Peter; more especially in the matter of those who, either in the performance of penance, or for their soul's comfort, or on visits of respect, are desirous to obtain access to our Lord the Pope, and who are hindered, robbed, imprisoned, denied embarkation by persons either serving voluntarily in the cause of evil, or who have been pledged to these practices by compulsory oaths.

XV.

* Isaiah x. 1.

†The Emperor and his party—cf. Henry's letter to the Archbishop of Cologne, Ep. D. T., 64.

We, therefore, by the authority of the holy see of Rome, command your Lordships, in virtue of your allegiance, and at the peril of your order, that you forthwith forbid such outrages, and that against all such as persist in them you pronounce public sentence of excommunication, and cause it to be proclaimed through your respective dioceses; and moreover that you forward the same to all neighbouring bishops, bidding them to repeat it each as far as his own jurisdiction extends, as they value our command and that of his Holiness. And as to those who have sworn to assist in such iniquitous proceedings, we hereby absolve them from their unlawful oaths, and charge them henceforward to serve God rather than man. Lastly, if there is any one who, with the welfare of the church at heart, and abiding in his allegiance to the holy see, shrinks from the prospect of expense and danger; let him remember that good deeds are a securer treasure than the riches which are but for a

moment.

Christ, who is the guardian of the church of Rome, is also the restrainer of the powers that array themselves against it. He by whom the mighty are mightily tormented will suffer no disobedience to escape. It is not against the humble that He directs his judgments, but by the ministry of the church He humbles earth's mighty ones: nor shall the gates of hell prevail against Him. And is it not a shame for us, my brethren, to deal less even justice, and, by partial lenience towards great men, to verify their own insulting proverb

"Et tantum miseris irasci Numina possunt "?

For the future, then, take heed to yourselves, lest by persisting in your present courses you should appear to be conspiring against the see of Rome. Seek not your own advantage to its prejudice. Bear in mind rather by what means our Fathers were preserved, in whose times the church waxed great under persecution-what storms have been escaped by the ship of Peter, while under the guidance of Christ-how those only have obtained the crown whose faith has shone bright in tribulation. By such means it was that Moses was made leader of his people, that David rose from a shepherd to a king, that the apostles were made judges of the world. So it has fared with all God's saints from the beginning; that all men might see how those alone are crowned who have striven for victory, and how there is no passing from the joys of earth to the joys of heaven.*

Written the end of May, 1166.

(To be continued.)

PARISH CHURCHES-No. XIII.

WARBLINGTON CHURCH AND CASTLE, HANTS.

[With an Engraving.]

THE accompanying sketch represents a ruined tower, the remains of the ancient manor house of Warblington, Hants, and also the parish church, which is situated a few hundred yards to the south of it. To the lords of the manor, the former inhabitants of this now decayed mansion, tradition assigns the foundation and endowment of the church and parish. Some little account of both may not, then, perhaps appear improper in the same paper, or be deemed unworthy of admission among the parochial histories inserted in the British Magazine.

Ep. D. T., 97.