Compare 1577 edition: 1 But doubting how the matter would be taken, after they had wrought their feat, they got them into the bishoprike of Duresme, there to remaine till they might heare how the king would take this their vn|lawfull enterprise: though (as they alledged) they had lustilie defended his cause, and reuenged his quarell as faithfull seruants ought to doo. Howbeit, it chan|ced otherwise than they looked it should haue doone: for king Henrie gaue them so litle thankes for their presumptuous act,The murthe|rers come to an euill end. Matth. Paris. W. Paruus. sounding to the euill example of other in breach of his lawes, that they despairing vt|terlie of pardon, fled one into one place, and another into another, so that within foure yeares they all di|ed an euill death (as it hath béene reported.) Some write, that they went to Rome by the kings com|mandement, and there presented themselues before the pope, to receiue such penance for their wicked act as he should enioine them. Herevpon the pope ap|pointed them to go vnto Ierusalem, there to doo their penance, where they remained certeine yeares, ap|plieng themselues verie diligentlie to performe the satisfaction of their offense, according to the maner prescribed to them by the pope, and so at length died.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This was the end of Thomas Becket archbishop of Canturburie, Anno Reg. 17. which was after he had entred into that see eight yeares and six moneths, in the yeare after the birth of our Lord 1171. [...]ter their account that begin the yere on Christmas day. Robert de Broc. On Christmas day before his death, which fell that yeare on the fridaie, he preached a sermon to the people, and when he had made an end thereof, he accurssed Nigell de Sacke|uille, the violent incumbent of the church of Berges, and Robert de Broc, both which had (vpon spite) curtailed the horsse of the said archbishop: and as the same day whilest he was at the altar, according to his custome, altogither in teares and lamen [...]ati|on; so at dinner he shewed himselfe verie pleasant & merrie, insomuch that when those that were at the EEBO page image 80 table séemed somewhat doubtfull to eat of the flesh that was set before them, bicause it was friday; Why doo ye abhorre (saith he) to eat flesh? This day flesh hath a great priuilege, for this same day the word was made flesh, and came into light, and appeared vnto vs. These his words greatlie contented all the com|panie.

¶Thus you haue heard the tragicall discourse of am|bitious Becket, a man of meane parentage, and yet through the princes fauour verie fortunate, if he had not abused the beneuolence of so gratious a soue|reigne by his insolencie and presumption. Wherein we haue to note, how vnseemelie a thing it was for him, being called to so sacred a function, to lead so se|cular and prophane a life, as if he had professed open hostilitie to the vocation which he pretended to ho|nour and reuerence. We are also taught, that promo|tions atchiued by ambition are not permanent, and are so farre from procuring fame and renowne to the obteiners, that they turne them in the end to shame, infamie and reproch, after losse of life and effu|sion of bloud. The issue of all which tragedie is to be imputed to the prouidence and counsell of almightie God, as one writeth verie agréeablie to this pur|pose, saieng,

H [...]si. in lib. cui tit. op. & dies.Nam facile extolli [...] facilè elatúm refraenat,

Et clarum obscurans, obscuri nomen adauget.

Erigit & miserum facilè extinguitque superbum

Iuppiter altifremus, cui celsum regia coelum.