A.D. 1105. TUE AKCHBISHOP TO HIS SUPFBAGAST BISHOPS. 275 they may reply, that this was not a proper time for provoking the prince. How astutely do they argue to ensure their own slavery ! Why, they themselves encourage it, who give shelter beneath their wings to his excesses ; for if they had not given their sanction, he would have refrained from acting thus. And on what occasion is constancy more required than during a time of persecution ? Arc not his friends proved by the test of persecution ? If people always succumb, what are they to look for ? Resistance is necessary at times. Look then with condescension, most holy father, upon my exile and persecutions, and remember that once in your time I occupied an exalted position, and that for your sake I have been loaded with injuries. Put forth your severity, and restrain those at whose instigations this persecution has befallen me ; and let not aught of these things be imputed to my lord the king, who is rather the instrument, than the author of these machinations.'' The Letter of the blessed Thomas, archlishop of Canterbury, to his suffragan bishops. " Thomas, by the grace of God, the humble servant of the church of Canterbury, to his venerable brethren, the bishop of London, and the other bishops of the whole province of Canterbury ; may they so enjoy temporal blessings, as not to lose those of eternity. My most dearly-beloved brethren, wherefore do ye not arise with me against my enemies ? Why do ye not take part with me against those who work iniquity r Is it that ye are ignorant that the Lord scattereth abroad the bones of those who please men ? They shall be confounded, inasmuch as the Lord hath despised them. Your discreetness well knows that when the errors of a man are not opposed, they are approved ; and that when truth is not defended, it is smothered. He, too, who does not hasten to the reproval of that which ought to be corrected, appears, Saint Gregory giving his testimony thereto, to encourage him who commits the wrong. Enough, and even 'more than enough, have we put up with our lord, the king of England ; and yet, in return, the Church of God has received no support from him. We hold that it is a thing dangerous and not to be endured, to leave unpunished for the future, as hitherto, the excessive outrages committed by him and his officials against the Church of God and the ministers of that Church ; and the more especially so, inasmuch as, most ι 2