that bicause he was an archbishop, they had no power to iudge or
condemne him, though his cause prooued neuer so euill, which they
could not perceiue[1] so to be; he told them yet they might at the
leastwise renounce their obedience to him, and forsake his companie,
which they said they might doo. "Then doo it (saith the king) with
spéed, that he may (when he shall sée himselfe abandoned, and despised
of all men) repent that he hath followed Urban, and neglected me his
souereigne lord and maister. [Sidenote: The king renounceth the
archbishop for his subiect.] And that he may doo it the more safelie,
first of all I depriue him of the suertie and allegiance which he may
pretend to haue of me within all my dominions, and from hencefoorth I
will haue no affiance in him, nor take him for an archbishop."

The bishops would faine haue persuaded Anselme to haue shewed himselfe
comformable to the kings pleasure, and therefore tooke paines with him
earnestlie in that behalfe, but all would not serue. He answered indéed
verie curteouslie, but his benefice he would not renounce, as touching
the name and office, though in exterior things he were neuer so much
disquieted. The king perceiuing him to stand stiffe in his opinion, said
vnto his lords; "His words are euer contrarie to my mind, and I will not
take him for my fréend, whosoeuer dooth fauour him. I shall therefore
require you that be péeres of my realme, to renounce all the faith and
freendship which you beare him, that he may see what he hath gained by
that allegiance, which (to the offending of my person) he obserueth to
the apostolike sée." Whereto the lords answered; "As for vs, we were
neuer his men, and therefore we cannot abiure any fealtie which we neuer
acknowledged. He is our archbishop, and hath rule in matters perteining
to christian religion within this land, for which cause we that are
christians may not refuse his authoritie whilest we remaine here on
earth, bicause he is attainted with no blemish of any heinous crime,