Becket, Archbishop Of Canterbury

PREFACE. THIS volume has grown out of two articles which appeared in the English Beview withstanding the changes thirteen years ago and, not- as to form and size which those it well to retain papers have now undergone, I have thought some marks of their original character, as contributions to a literary journal. Let me venture here to express an earnest hope that the whole body of documents relating to the history of Becket may speedily find a place Memorials in the series of Chronicles and which is now in progress under the superintend- ence of the Master of the Rolls. Of the necessity of a competent editors care for the arrangement and illustration of the correspondence, I have spoken elsewhere a and, next to this, the most considerable part of such an editors task would probably be the analysis and comparison of the various biographies, with a view of ascertaining their correspondences and divergences, and the sources from which each writer derived his materials. Perhaps the result of such an inquiry might be found to throw some light on questions connected with a Historia Quadripartita far more important than that which is devoted to the Life of Thomas of Canterbury. Pp. 168-172. . My best thanks are due to the Kev. W. W. Shirley, of Wadham College, Oxford to Mr. Fergusson, of Langham Place author of the excellent Handbook of Architecture, c. and to Mr. George Austin, of Canterbury, for the kind and valuable assistance which I have received from them. Precincts, Canterbury, September, 1859. J. C. K. P.S. A new edition of the metrical Life by Gamier has just been published at Paris by M. Hippeau, of Caen too late for me to make use of the text but I may refer to M. Hippeaus Introduction although it contains some things in which I cannot agree for a forcible argument against the -theory which represents Becket as a champion of the Saxon race. November 2, 1859. Page Views of Beckets history and cha- racter .. of Gilbert and Matilda . . 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTEE I. INTRODUCTORY. CHAPTEE II. Materials for his story EARLY LIFE, A.D. 1118-1154. Legend Was Gilbert a Saxon 13 Birth and early years of Thomas Becket 15 The office of chancellor Becket as chancellor His splendour .. Death of Theobald Becket nominated as archbishop His election Gilbert Foliot 1 Release from secular obligations CHAPTER III. ill Pag e Introduction to Archbishop Theobald 20 Employments and preferments . . 22 Accession of Henry II 24 Becket chancellor 26 THE CHANCELLORSHIP, A.D. 1155-1162. to France . . Embassy War of Toulouse CHAPTEE IV. THE ARCHBISHOPRIC, A.D. 1161-2. CHAPTEE V. 32 33 Consecration 46 The pall 47 Change of life 48 Manner of life as archbishop . . . . 52 THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES, A.D. 1162-3. Beckets policy as chancellor . . . . 60 Resignation of the chancellorship . . 62 Affair of the archdeaconry . . . . 64 Resumption of lands 65 Meeting with Henry at Southampton 67 Council of Tours 68 Claims as to Rochester and Tunbridge 71 Patronage of Eynesford 72 Taillage 73 Question of clerical immunities . . 74 Vlll CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. COUNCILS AT WESTMINSTER AND CLARENDON, OCT. 1163 OCT. 1164. Council of Westminster Interview at Northampton Opposition of bishops to Becket He agrees to accept the Customs Council of Clarendon The Constitutions ...