anie man for pope, without the kings licence and consent, saieng
moreouer, that if the said Anselme would séeke to take that
prerogatiue and dignitie from him, it should be all one, as if he
should go about to take awaie from him his crowne, and all other
roiall dignitie. Wherevnto Anselme answered, that at Rochester (before
he was consecrated bishop) he had declared his mind therein, and that
beeing abbat of Bechellouin in Normandie, he had receiued Urban for
pope; so that whatsoeuer chanced, he might reuolt from his obedience
and subiection.

The king beeing the more kindled herewith, protested in plaine words,
that Anselme could not kéepe his faith and allegiance towards him, and
his obedience also to the see of Rome, against his will and pleasure.
[Sidenote: A councell at Rockingham in Rutlandshire.] But (to
conclude) this matter went so far in controuersie betwixt the king and
the bishop, that a councell was called at Rockingham in Rutlandshire,
and there in the church within the castell, the matter was earnestlie
decided, and much adoo on euerie side, to haue constreined Anselme to
renounce his opinion, but he would not. Wherfore it was then deuised,
that if he would not agrée to the kings pleasure, they would by and by
sée if they might by any meanes depriue him: but Anselme still held
hard, and could not be feared by all these threats; and in like maner
to iudge of an archbishops cause, the other bishops concluded that
they had no authoritie.

Moreouer, while the matter was in consultation among the bishops,
another of the kings councell that was a knight, came before Anselme
in place where he sat almost alone, to looke for an answer by them
from the king, which knight knéeling downe before the archbishop,
spake these words vnto him: "Reuerend father, your humble children