keep the laws that had been used in his forefathers' days. Then S. Thomas spake for the part of holy church, and said: 'All old laws that be good and rightful, and not against our mother holy church, I grant with good will to keep them.' And then the king said that he would not leave one point of his law, and waxed wroth with S. Thomas. And then certain bishops required S. Thomas to obey to the king's desire and will, and S. Thomas desired respite to know the laws, and then to give him an answer. And when he understood them all, to some he consented, but many he denied and would never be agreeable to them, wherefore the king was wroth and said he would hold and keep them like as his predecessors had done before him, and would not minish one point of them. Then S. Thomas said to the king with full great sorrow and heavy cheer, 'Now, my most dear lord and gracious king, have pity on us of holy church, your bedemen, and give to us respite for a certain time.' And thus departed each man. And S. Thomas went to Winchester, and there prayed our Lord devoutly for holy church, and to give him aid and strength for to defend it, for utterly he determined to abide by the liberties and franchise; and fell down on his knees and said, full sore weeping: 'O good Lord, I acknowledge that I have offended, and for mine offence and trespass this trouble cometh to holy church: I purpose, good Lord, to go to Rome for to be assoiled of mine offences' ; and departed towards Canterbury. And anon the king sent his officers to his manors and despoiled them, because he would not obey the
