Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (05 of 12): Henrie the SecondHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (05 of 12): Henrie the Second
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Henry II, 1154-1189; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
At length the knights with their seruants hauing sought the palace,
[Sidenote: The knights enter the church.] came rushing into the church
by the cloister doore with their swords drawne, some of them asking for
the traitor, and some of them for the archbishop, who came and met them,
saieng; "Here am I, no traitor, but the archbishop." [Sidenote: As
though archbishops can be no traitors.] The formost of the knights said
vnto him: "Flee; thou art but dead," To whome the archbishop said, "I
will not flée." The knight stept to him taking him by the sléeue, and
with his sword cast his cap besides his head, and said, "Come hither,
for thou art a prisoner." "I will not (said the archbishop) doo with me
here what thou wilt:" and plucked his sleeue with a mightie strength out
of the knights hand. Wherewith the knight stepped backe two or thrée
paces. [Sidenote: The courage of the archb.] Then the archbishop turning
to one of the knights, said to him, "What meaneth this, Reignold? I
haue doone vnto thée manie great pleasures, and commest thou now vnto
me into the church armed?" Unto whome the knight presentlie answered and
said; "Thou shalt know anon what is ment, thou art but dead: it is not
possible for thee any longer to liue." Unto whom the archbishop
answered: "I am readie to die for my God, and for the defense of his
iustice and the libertie of the church; gladlie doo I imbrace death, so
that the church may purchase peace and libertie by the shedding of my
blood." And herewith taking on other of the knights by the habergeon, he
floong him from him with such violence, that he had almost throwne him
downe to the ground. This was sir Will. Tracie, as he after confessed.
Then the archbishop inclined his head after the maner of one that would
praie, pronouncing these his last words: "To God, to saint Marie, and to
the saints that are patrones of this church, and to saint Denise, I
commend my selfe and the churches cause." Therewith sir Reignold
FitzUrse striking a full blow at his head, [Sidenote: Edward of
Cambridge.] chanced to light vpon the arme of a clerke named Edward of
Cambridge, who cast vp his arme to saue the archbishop: but when he was
not able to beare the weight of the blow, he plucked his arme backe, and
so the stroke staied vpon the archbishops head, in such wise that the
bloud ran downe by his face. [Sidenote: The archbish. is slaine.] Then
they stroke at him one after an other, and though he fell to the ground
at the second blow, yet they left him not till they had cut and pashed
out his braines, and dashed them about vpon the church pauement. All
this being doone, they rifled his house, spoiled his goods, and tooke
them to their owne vses, supposing it lawfull for them being the kings
seruants so to doo.
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