Edward Grim Woodstock July 1163

Description by Edward Grim of the events that took place at the Council of Woodstock July 1163

Extract from

William Stubbs (1870). Select charters and other illustrations of English constitutional history from the earliest times to the reign of Edward the First. Clarendon Press. pp. 123–.

VS Thomae auct Grim pp 21 22 Commorante rege in praedio suo apud Wodestoke praesente archiepiscopo et primis patriae inter alia movetur quaestio de consuetudine quadam quae in Anglia tenebatur. Dabantur de hida bini solidi ministris regis qui vicecomitum loco comitatus servabant quos voluit rex conscribere fisco et reditibus propriis associare. Cui archiepi scopus in faciem restitit dicens non debere eos exigi pro reditibus nec pro reditu inquit dabimus eos domine rex salvo beneplacito vostro sed si digne nobis servierint vicecomites et servientes vel ministri provinciarum et homines nostros manu tenuerint nequaquam eis deerimus in auxilium. Rex autem aegre ferens archiepiscopi responsionem. Per oculos Dei ait dabuntur pro reditu et in scriptura regis scribeutur nec dignum est ut contradicas cum nemo tuos contra voluntatem tuam gravare velit Praevidens archiepiscopus et praecavens ne per ipsius patientiam consuetudo induceretur unde posteri gravarentur per reverentiam oculorum quos jurasti domine mi rex non dabuntur de tota terra mea et de jure ecclesiae ne unius quidem denarius.

Materials for The Life of Thomas Becket Volume II p.273

 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k503197/f438.image

The king, whilst in residence on his estate at Woodstock, [in Council July 1163] in the presence of the archbishop and the magnates of the realm, motioned a question concerning a certain custom which [at that time] prevailed in England.[The custom was that] two shillings for each each hide [of land] which was paid over to the officers of the king, who, as sheriffs guarded the counties: this income he considered as a loss of revenue to the exchequer and he, as the king, wanted it to be enrolled [inscribed] as his own income. The archbishop resisted him, to his face, saying it should not be considered as the king's income. "Not from us," he said, "should this be given as revenue, my lord the king, saving your pleasure. but if we have been served by the sheriffs in a worthy manner or [also] by the officials and ministers of the shires we [of the Church] will not withhold contribution to their aid". But the king was greatly troubled with the archbishop's response. "By the eyes of God," he said, "it will be recorded as the king's revenue. Nor is the right to contradict me, when no one would anger your men against your will."  Foreseeing this, the archbishop and his patience, cautioning that the practice would be introduced so that future generations would not be burdened, "by the reverence of the eyes which you have sworn, my lord the king, from the whole my land and by the right of the Church, not a single penny will be given."

Reference

W.D. Handock (23 July 1996). English Historical Documents 1833-1874. II. Routledge. pp. 761–. ISBN 978-0-415-14374-5.

British Library Reference

• Title: English historical documents / general editor, David C. Douglas.
• Contributor: David Charles Douglas 1898-
• Subjects: Great Britain -- History -- Sources ;
  Dewey: 941
• Publication Details: London : E. Methuen ; 1979- 
• Language: English 
• Edition: 2nd ed.. 
• Description: Contents: 
• v. 2. 1042-1189 / edited by David C. Douglas and George W. Greenaway 
• Identifier: 
• ISBN 0415143616 (set);
• ISBN 0413325008 (v. 2 : 1981 printing); 
• ISBN 019520235X (v. 2 : U.S. : 1981 printing); ISBN 0415143675 (v. 2);
• Notes: Previous ed.: 1953-1977. -- This ed. reissued in 1996 by Routledge, transferred to digital printing 2003--T.p. verso. 
  Bibliography note: Includes bibliographical references and index. 
• Physical Description: v. : 24 cm. 
• Shelfmark(s): Document Supply 80/0362 vol. 1 
  Document Supply 81/19579 vol. 2 
  Document Supply 98/24347 vol. 6 
  General Reference Collection X.0800/1544 
  Open Access  Humanities 1 Reading Room HLR 941 
  Document Supply 99/18987 vol. 7 
  General Reference Collection YC.1996.b.985 
  Document Supply 98/16355 vol. 3 
• UIN: BLL01013418092 
  
  English Historical Documents. v. 2, 1042-1189. Ed. D. C. Douglas & G. W. Greenaway - Internet Archive https://bit.ly/3NnNnvv