Excommunications at Vézelay 1166
From his base in the Lateran in Rome, Pope Alexander III removed the constraints on Becket. In April or May 1166, He indicated in a letter to him that he could exercise
'ecclesiastical justice when you consider it opportune against those who have done violence or injury to the properties and possessions of your church or against you and yours and have refused to make proper restitution and satisfaction to you after legal warning; and by God's will we shall confirm and ratify whatever you shall do in the matter."
The Pope specifically pointed out in this letter that this did not grant Becket a mandate concerning King Henry II, but he did give him the status of being a papal legate to England.
Chretien Lupus; Alejandro III (Papa); Luis VII (Rey de Francia.); Enrique II (Rey de Inglaterra.), Tommaso Antonio Filippini (1728). "Quoniam ad omnem cubitum". Epistolae et vita D. Thomae martyris et Archi-episcopi Cantuariensis: nec non epistolae Alexandri III Pontificis, Galliae regis Ludovici Septimi, Angliae regis Henrici II ... : in lucem productae ex manuscripto Vaticano. prostant apud Jo. Baptistam Albritium q. Hieron. et Sebastianum Coleti. pp. 130–.
On Whitsunday, 12th June 1166, Becket celebrated mass in the grand church of Vézelay abbey. During his sermon he condemned the Constitutions of Clarendon and athematized all those who observed and enforced them. He annulled the written document, condemning in particular the clauses which controlled communication with the papal curia, restrictions on the Church's right to excommunicate, and those clauses lessening the Church's ecclesiastical jurisdiction. He then proceeded to excommunicate by name the following
John of Oxford
Richard of Ilchester
Richard de Lucy and Jocelin de Balliol
Ranulf de Broc, Hugh de St. Clair and Thomas fitz Bernard
Pope's Confirmation of these Sentences
Alexander papa Thomae Cantuariensi archi-episcopo.
Quod juxta officii tui debitum circa libertatem ecclesiae, et jura ecclesiastica defensanda sollicitus et intentus existis, sollicitudinis et constantia e tuae prudentiam digna laude prosequimur, et eam in hac parte multimodis commendamus. Unde sententiam ecclesiasticam, quam in Ricardum de Ivelcestria, et Joannem de Oxenefordia, et in omnes alios ecclesiae Dei perversores rationabiliter promulgasti, nulla ratione immutare curabimus, sed eam potius ratam et firmam auctore Domino habere decernimus.
Pope Alexander to Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury
Lateran August 1166
Because of the duty owed by your office in regards to the liberty of the church, and your being concerned and intent in going out in defence of the rights of the Church, and which we enjoin with you in worthy praise of your constancy and good sense, and it in this way variously we do commend this. Because of this, the ecclesiastical sentences which have been passed upon Richard de Ilchester, and John of Oxford, and on all the other corruptors of the church of God and which have been reasonably published, we can find no reason to change them, but rather we decree them to be lawful and they are hereby confirmed with the authority of the Lord.
Becket's Letter to his Suffragan Bishops "Fratres Mei"
Letter contains a summary by Becket of the clauses of the Constitutions of Clarendon condemned by Pope Alexander III. It also contains a list of those excommunicated at Vezelay and the reasons for it
Translation
legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/hoveden-becket.asp#1165c Archive
References
Richard Hurrell Froude; James Bowling Mozley (1839). "Chapter VI: The Excommunications at Vezelay". Remains of the Late Reverend Richard Hurrell Froude: v. 2. J. G. & F. Rivington. pp. 130–.
Wikipedia Richard de Luci Devisor of the Constitutions of Clarendon
DNB Richard of Ilchester Baron of the exchequer
Wikipedia Richard of iIchester Baron of the exchequer
Wikipedia John of Oxford Royal clerk and Dean of Salisbury
International envoy for king Henry II
Jocelin de Balliol, Devisor of the Constitutions of Clarendon
Witness on many royal documents.
Ranulf de Broc (of Saltwood Castle)
Usher to the King's Chamber and Keeper of his Whores
Brooks, E. St. John. Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research, Catteshill and Another Usher Serjeanty in the Purcel Family
Hugh de St. Clair Faithful attendant to the king
Thomas fitz Bernard Itinerant Justice and Chief Forester
[In this year (25th year king Henry II's reign), Thomas Fitz-Bernard [and his Companions] were Justices of the Forest]
English Royal Forests under the Angevin Kings Charles R. Young Journal of British Studies Vol. 12, No. 1 (Nov., 1972), pp. 1-14
Henry Hart Milman (1860). "Becket at Vézelay". Life of Thomas à Becket. Sheldon & company. pp. 131–.
James Jacob Spigelman (1 June 2004). Becket & Henry: The Becket Lectures. James Spigelman. pp. 173–. ISBN 978-0-646-43477-3.
DNB: John of Oxford
DNB: Richard of Ilchester
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Roger of Hoveden: The Chronicle: On the Disputes between Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and King Henry II of England [NB Chronology confusing]
The Letter of the blessed Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, to his suffragan bishops.
John Philipot; Thomas Philipot (1776).
Villare Cantianum: Or, Kent Surveyed and Illustrated. Being an Exact Description of All the Parishes, Boroughs, Villages, and Other Respective Manors in the County of Kent; ... By Thomas Philipott, ... To which is Added an Historical Catalogue of the High Sheriffs of Kent; Collected by John Philipott, .... W. Whittingham; R. Baldwin, Paternoster-Row; H. Gardner, Strand; W. Lane, London; W. Mercer, Maidstone; Smith and Son, Canterbury; T. Fisher, Rochester; J. Sprange, Tunbridge Wells; J. Hogben, junior, Rye; J. Hall, Tenterden. pp. 203–.
John Philipot; Thomas Philipot (1776).
Villare Cantianum: Or, Kent Surveyed and Illustrated. Being an Exact Description of All the Parishes, Boroughs, Villages, and Other Respective Manors in the County of Kent; ... By Thomas Philipott, ... To which is Added an Historical Catalogue of the High Sheriffs of Kent; Collected by John Philipott, .... W. Whittingham; R. Baldwin, Paternoster-Row; H. Gardner, Strand; W. Lane, London; W. Mercer, Maidstone; Smith and Son, Canterbury; T. Fisher, Rochester; J. Sprange, Tunbridge Wells; J. Hogben, junior, Rye; J. Hall, Tenterden. pp. 19–.
EHD 139.
Excommunications pronounced by Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury,
at Vézelay (Whit-Sunday, 12 June 1166) as described by John of Salisbury.
Extract from a letter written by John of Salisbury to Bartholomew, bishop of Exeter.
(Materials for the History of Thomas Becket,V,382-3)
Suffragan Bishops' Appeal to Thomas Becket, ca 24th June 1166. Composed by Gilbert Foliot
Quae Vestro ...
Saint Thomas (à Becket) (2000). "No. 93". In Anne Duggan. The Correspondence of Thomas Becket: Archbishop of Canterbury 1162-1170. Volume 1. Oxford University Press. pp. 372–383. ISBN 978-0-19-820892-1.
Adrian Morey, CNL Brooke, ed. "No. 167". Gilbert Foliot and His Letters. CUP Archive. pp. 222–5. GGKEY:BEZS7LS142K.
MTB no 206 5 408-13
Translation:-