|b{The_Life_of_S._Thomas_of_Canterbury;_in}
|b{_The_golden_leged_or_lives_of_}
|b{the_saints_as_Englished}
|b{by_William_Caxton._vol._II.}
|b{Ed._Ellis,_F.S.}
|bLondon:_Dent_et_al._1900.}
|b{pp.182-197}



|p182


Here followeth the Life of S. Thomas, martyr, of
  Canterbury, and first the exposition of his name.

  Thomas is as much to say as abisme or double,
or trenched and hewn, he was an abisme profound
in humility, as it appeared in the hair that he
wore, and in washing of the feet of the poor
people, double in prelation that was in word and
in ensample, and hewn and trenched in his passion.
S. Thomas the martyr was son to Gilbert Beckett,
a burgess of the City of London, and was born in
the place where as now standeth the church called
S. Thomas of Acre. And this Gilbert was a
good devout man, and took the cross upon him,
and went on pilgrimage into the Holy Land, and
had a servant with him. And when he had
accomplished his pilgrimage, he was taken home_ward
by the heathen men and brought into the
prison of a prince named Amurath, where long
time he and his fellowship suffered much pain



|p183


and sorrow. And the prince had great affection
towards this Gilbert, and had often communication
with him of the christian faith, and of the realm
of England, by which conversation it fortuned that
the daughter of this prince had especial love unto
this Gilbert, and was familiar with him. And
on a time she disclosed her love to him, saying if
he would promise to wed her she should forsake
friends, heritage and country, for his love and
become christian, and after long communication
between them he promised to wed her if she
would become christian, and told to her the place
of his dwelling in England. And after, by the
purveyance of God, the said Gilbert escaped and
came home. And after this it fortuned so that
this prince's daughter stole privily away, and
passed many a wild place and great adventure, and
by God's purveyance at last came to London
demanding and crying Becket! Becket! for more
English could she not; wherefore the people drew
about her, what for the strange array of her, as
for that they understood her not, and many a
shrewd boy. So long she went till she came
tofore Gilbert's door, and as she stood there, the
servant that had been with Gilbert in prison which
was named Richard, saw her and knew that it
was she, and went in to his master, and told him
how that this maid stood at his door; and anon
he went out to see her. And as soon as she saw
him she fell in a swoon for joy, and Gilbert took
her up, and comforted her, and brought her into his
house, and .sith went to the bishops, which then were
six at Paul's and rehearsed all the matter, and after
they christened her, and forthwith wedded her
unto Gilbert Becket, and within time reasonable
and accustomed, was brought forth between them



|p184


a fair son named Thomas. And after this, yet the
said Gilbert went again to the Holy Land and
was there three years ere he came again. And
this child grew forth till he was set to school, and
learned well and became virtuous, and when he
was twenty-four years old his mother passed out of
this world. And after this he served a merchant
of London a while in keeping his charge and
accompts, and from him he went to Stigand, arch_bishop
of Canterbury, and he was in so great
favour with him that he made him archdeacon
and chief of his counsel, and well executed he his
office in punishing the culpable and cherishing the
good people. And divers times went to Rome
for to support and help holy church. And after
this Henry II. that was the emperor's son was
made king of England, and he ordained this
Thomas his chancellor, and had great rule, and
the land stood in prosperity. And S. Thomas
stood so greatly in the king's favour that the king
was content with all that he did, and when the
king went into Normandy he betook the governance
of his son and the realm into the rule of S. Thomas,
which he wisely governed till his return again.
And anon after died Theobald, the archbishop
of Canterbury, and then the king gave his nomina_tion
to S. Thomas, and by-the chapter was elected
in the year of his age, forty-four, and was full loth
to take that great charge upon him. And so at
last, his bulls had, he was sacred and stalled and
became a holy man, suddenly changed into a new
man, doing great penance, as in wearing hair with
knots, and a breech of the same down to the
knees. And on a Trinity Sunday received he
his dignity, and there was at that time the king
with many a great lord and sixteen bishops. And



|p185


from thence was sent the abbot of Evesham to the
pope with other clerks for the pall which he gave
and brought to him, and he full meekly received
it. And under his habit he ware the habit of a
monk, and so was he under within forth a monk,
and outward a clerk, and did great abstinence
making his body lean and his soul fat. And he
used to be well served at his table, and took but
little refection thereof, and lived holily in giving
good ensample.
  After this, many times the king went over into
Normandy, and in his absence always S. Thomas
had the rule of his son and of the realm, which
was governed so well that the king could him
great thanks, and then abode long in this realm.
And when so was that the king did any thing
against the franchise and liberties of holy church,
S. Thomas would ever withstand it to his power.
And on a time when the sees of London and of
Winchester were vacant and void, the king kept
them both long in his hand for to have the profits
of them; wherefore S. Thomas was heavy, and
came to the king and desired him to give those
two bishopricks to some virtuous men. And anon
the king granted to him his desire and ordained
one master Roger, bishop of Winchester, and the
Earl of Gloucester,s son, bishop of London,
named Sir Robert. And anon after S. Thomas
hallowed the abbey of Reading, which the first
Henry founded. And that same year he trans_lated
S. Edward, king and confessor at West_minster,
where he was laid in a rich shrine. And
in some short time after, by the enticement of the
devil, fell great debate, variance, and strife, between
the king and S. Thomas, and the king sent for all
the bishops to appear tofore him at Westminster



|p186


at a certain day, at which day they assembled
tofore him, whom he welcomed, and after said to
them how that the archbishop would destroy his
law, and not suffer him to enjoy such things as his
predecessors had used tofore him. Whereto S.
Thomas answered that he never intended to do
thing that should displease the king as far as it
touched not the franchise and liberties of holy
church. Then the king rehearsed how he would
not suffer clerks that were thieves to have the
execution of the law; to which S. Thomas said,
that he ought not to execute them, but they
longeth to the correction of holy church, and
other divers points; to which S. Thomas would
not agree. To the which the king said: Now I
see well that thou wouldest foredo the laws of this
land which have been used in the days of my
predecessors, but it shall not lie in thy power, and
so the king being wroth departed. Then the
bishops all counselled S. Thomas to follow the
king's intent, or else the land should be in great
trouble; and in like wise the lords temporal that
were his friends counselled him the same, and S.
Thomas said: I take God to record it was never
mine intent to displease the king, or to take any
thing that longeth to his right or honour. And
then the lords were glad and brought him to the
king to Oxenford, and the king deigned not to
speak to him. And then the king called all the
lords spiritual and temporal tofore him, and said
he would have all the laws of his forefathers there
new confirmed, and there they were confirmed
by all the lords spiritual and temporal. And
after this the king charged them for to come to
him to Clarendon to his parliament at a certain
day assigned, on pain to run in his indignation,



|p187


and at that time so departed. And this parliament
was holden at Clarendon, the eleventh year of the
king's reign, and the year of our Lord eleven
hundred and sixty-four. At this parliament were
many lords which all were against S. Thomas.
And then the king sitting in his parliament, in the
presence of all his lords, demanded them if they
would abide and 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



|p188


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 king's statutes. And the
king commanded to seize all his lands and goods
into his hands, and then his servants departed from
him, and he went to the seaside for to have gone
over sea, but the wind was against him, and so
thrice he took his ship and might not pass. And
then he knew that it was not our Lord's will that
he should yet depart, and returned secretly to
Canterbury, of whose coming his meiny made
great joy. And on the morn came the king's
officers for to seize all his goods, for the noise
was that S. Thomas had fled the land; wherefore
they had despoiled all his manors and seized them
into the king's hand. And when they came they
found him at Canterbury, whereof they were sore
abashed, and returned to the king informing him
that he was yet at Canterbury, and anon after S.
Thomas came to the king to Woodstock for to
pray him to be better disposed towards holy
church. And then said the king to him in
scorn: May not we two dwell both in this
land? Art thou so sturdy and hard of heart? To
whom S. Thomas answered: Sire, that was never
my thought, but I would fain please you, and do
all that you desire so that ye hurt not the liberties
of holy church, for them will I maintain while I
live, ever to my power. With which words the
king was sore moved, and swore that he would
have them kept, and especial if a clerk were a
thief he should be judged and executed by the
king's law, and by no spiritual law, and said he
would never suffer a clerk to be his master in his



|p189


own land, and charged S. Thomas to appear
before him at Northampton, and to bring all the
bishops of this land with him, and so departed.
S. Thomas besought God of help and succour,
for the bishops which ought to be with him were
most against him. After this S. Thomas went
to Northampton where the king had then his great
council in the castle with all his lords, and when
he came tofore the king he said: I am come to
obey your commandment, but before this time was
never bishop of Canterbury thus entreated, for I
am head of the Church of England, and am to
you, Sir King, your ghostly father, and it was
never God's law that the son should destroy his
father which hath charge of his soul. And by
your striving have you made all the bishops that
should abide by the right of the church to be
against holy church and me, and ye know well
that I may not fight, but am ready to suffer death
rather than I should consent to lose the right of
holy church. Then said the king, Thou speakest
as a proud clerk, but I shall abate thy pride ere
I leave thee, for I must reckon with thee. Thou
understandest well that thou wert my chancellor
many years, and once I lent to thee œ 500
which thou never yet hast repaid, which I will
that thou pay me again or else incontinent thou
shalt go to prison. And then S. Thomas an_swered:
Ye gave me that œ 500, and it is not fitting
to demand that which ye have given. Notwith_standing
he found surety for the said œ 500 and
departed for that day. And after this, the next
day the king demanded œ 30,000 that he had
surmised on him to have stolen, he being chan_cellor,
whereupon he desired day to answer; at
which time he said that when he was archbishop



|p190


he set him free therein without any claim or debt
before good record, wherefore he ought not to
answer unto that demand. And the bishops de_sired
S. Thomas to obey the king but in no wise
he would not agree to such things as should touch
against the liberties of the church. And then they
came to the king, and forsook S. Thomas, and
agreed to all the king's desire, and the proper
servants of S. Thomas fled from him and forsook
him, and then poor people came and accompanied
him. And on the night came to him two lords
and told to him that the king's meiny had emprised
to slay him. And the next night after he departed
in the habit of a brother of Sempringham, and so
chevissed that he went over sea.
  And in the meanwhile certain bishops went to
Rome for to complain on him to the pope, and
the king sent letters to the king of France not
to receive him. And the King Louis said that,
though a man were banished and had committed
there trespasses, yet should he be free in France.
And so after when this holy S. Thomas came, he
received him well, and gave him licence to abide
there and do what he would. In this meanwhile
the king of England sent certain lords unto the
pope complaining on the Archbishop Thomas,
which made grievous complaints, which when the
pope had heard said, he would give none answer
till that he had heard the Archbishop Thomas
speak, which would hastily come thither. But they
would not abide his coming, but departed without
speeding of their intents, and came into England
again. And anon after, S Thomas came to
Rome on S. Mark's day at afternoon, and when
his caterer should have bought fish for his dinner
because it was fasting day, he could get none for



|p191


no money, and came and told to his lord
Thomas so, and he bade him buy such as he
could get, and then he bought flesh and made it
ready for their dinner. And S. Thomas was
served with a capon roasted, and his meiny with
boiled meat. And so it was that the pope heard
that he was come, and sent a cardinal to welcome
him, and he found him at his dinner eating flesh,
which anon returned and told to the pope how he
was not so perfect a man as he had supposed, for
contrary to the rule of the church he eateth this
day flesh. The pope would not believe him, but
sent another cardinal which for more evidence
took the leg of the capon in his kerchief and
affirmed the same, and opened his kerchief tofore
the pope, and he found the leg turned into a fish
called a carp. And when the pope saw it, he
said, they were not true men to say such things of
this good bishop. They said faithfully that it
was flesh that he ate. After this S. Thomas came
to the pope and did his reverence and obedience,
whom the pope welcomed, and after communica_tion
he demanded him what meat he had eaten,
and he said: Flesh as ye have heard tofore, because
he could find no fish and very need compelled him
thereto. Then the pope understood of the
miracle that the capon's leg was turned into a
carp, and of his goodness granted to him and to
all them of the diocese of Canterbury licence to
eat flesh ever after on S. Mark's day when it
falleth on a fish day, and pardon withal, which is
kept and accustomed unto this day. And then
S. Thomas informed the pope how the king of
England would have him consent to divers articles
against the liberties of holy church, and what
wrongs he did to the same, and that for to die he



|p192


would never consent to them. And when the
pope had heard him he wept for pity, and thanked
God that he had such a bishop under him that
had so well defended the liberties of holy church,
and anon wrote out letters and bulls commanding
all the bishops of Christendom to keep and observe
the same. And then S. Thomas offered to the
pope his bishopric up into the pope's hand, and
his mitre with the cross and ring, and the pope
commanded him to keep it still, and said he knew
no man more able than he was. And after S.
Thomas said mass tofore the pope in a white
chasuble; and after mass he said to the pope that
he knew by revelation that he should suffer death
for the right of holy church, and when it should
fall that chasuble should be turned from white into
red. And after he departed from the pope and
came down into France unto the abbey of Pont_igny,
and there he had knowledge that when the
lords spiritual and temporal which had been at
Rome were come home and had told the king that
they might in no wise have their intent, that the king
was greatly wroth, and anon banished all the kinsmen
that were longing to S. Thomas that they should
incontinent void his land, and made them swear
that they should go to him and tell to him that for
his sake they were exiled, and so they went over
sea to him at Pontigny and he being there was
full sorry for them. And after there was a great
chapter in England of the monks of Citeaux and
there the king desired them to write to Pontigny
that they should no longer keep ne sustain Thomas
the Archbishop, for if they did, he would destroy
them of that order being in England. And, for
fear thereof they wrote. so over to Pontigny that
he must depart thence with his kinsmen, and so he



|p193


did, and was then full heavy, and remitted his
cause to God. And anon after, the king of
France sent to him that he should abide where it
pleased him, and dwell in his realm, and he would
pay for the costs of him and his kinsmen. And
he departed and went to Sens, and the abbot
brought him on the way. And S. Thomas told
him how he knew by a vision that he should suffer
death and martyrdom for the right of the church,
and prayed him to keep it secret during his life.
After this the king of England came into France,
and there told the king how S. Thomas would
destroy his realm, and then there told how he
would foredo such laws as his elders had used tofore
him, wherefore S. Thomas was sent for, and they
were brought together. And the king of France
laboured sore for to set them at accord, but it
would not be, for that one would not minish his
laws and accustoms, and S. Thomas would not
grant that he should do contrary the liberties of
holy church. And then the king of France, held
with the king of England against S. Thomas, and
was wroth with him and commanded him to void
his realm with all his kinsmen. And then S.
Thomas wist not whither to go; but comforted
his kinsmen as well as he might, and purposed to
have gone in to Provence for to have begged his
bread. And as he was going, the king of France
sent for him again, and when he came he cried
him mercy and said he had offended God and
him, and bade him abide in his realm where he
would, and he would pay for the dispenses of him
and his kin. And in the meanwhile the king of
England ordained his son king, and made him to
be crowned by the Archbishop of York, and other
bishops, which was against the statutes of the



|p194


land, for the Archbishop of Canterbury should
have consented and also have crowned him, where_fore
S. Thomas gat a bull for to do accurse them
that so did against him, and also on them that
occupied the goods longing to him. And yet
after this the king laboured so much that he
accorded the king of England and S. Thomas
which accord endured not long, for the king varied
from it afterward. But S. Thomas, upon this
accord, came home to Canterbury, where he was
received worshipfully, and sent for them that had
trespassed against him, and by the authority of the
pope's bull openly denounced them accursed unto
the time they come to amendment. And when
they knew this they came to him and would have
made him to assoil them by force; and sent word
over to the king how he had done, whereof the
king was much wroth and said: If he had men
in his land that loved him they would not suffer
such a traitor in his land alive.
  And forthwith four knights took their counsel
together and thought they would do to the king a
pleasure, and emprised to slay S. Thomas, and
suddenly departed and took their shipping towards
England. And when the king knew of their
departing he was sorry and sent after them, but
they were on the sea and departed ere the
messengers came, wherefore the king was heavy
and sorry.
  These be the names of the four knights: Sir
Reginald Fitzurse, Sir Hugh de Morville, Sir
William de Tracy, Sir Richard le Breton. On
Christmas day S. Thomas made a sermon at Canter_bury
in his own church, and weeping, prayed the
people to pray for him, for he knew well his time
was nigh, and there executed the sentence on them



|p195


that were against the right of holy church. And
that same day as the king sat at meat all the bread
that he handled waxed anon mouldy and hoar,
that no man might eat of it, and the bread that
they touched not was fair and good for to eat.
  And these four knights aforesaid came to
Canterbury on the Tuesday in Christmas week
about Evensong time, and came to S. Thomas
and said that the king commanded him to make
amends for the wrongs that he had done, and also
that he should assoil all them that he had accursed
anon, or else they should slay him. Then said
Thomas: All that I ought to do by right, that
will I with a good will do, but as to the sentence
that is executed I may not undo, but that they
will submit them to the correction of holy church,
for it was done by our holy father the pope and
not by me. Then said Sir Reginald: But if thou
assoil the king and all other standing in the curse,
it shall cost thee thy life. And S. Thomas said:
Thou knowest well enough that the king and I
were accorded on Mary Magdalene day, and
that this curse should go forth on them that had
offended the church.
  Then one of the knights smote him as he
kneeled before the altar on the head. And one
Sir Edward Grim, that was his crossier put forth
his arm with the cross to bear off the stroke, and
the stroke smote the cross asunder and his arm
almost off, wherefore he fled for fear, and so did
all the monks, that were that time at compline.
And then smote each at him, that they smote off a
great piece of the skull of his head, that his brain
fell on the pavement. And so they slew and
martyred him, and were so cruel that one of them
brake the point of his sword against the pavement.



|p196


And thus this holy and blessed Archbishop S.
Thomas suffered death in his own church for the
right of all holy church. And when he was
dead they stirred his brain, and after went in to his
chamber and took away his goods, and his horse
out of his stable, and took away his bulls and
writings, and delivered them to Sir Robert Broke
to bear into France to the king. And as they
searched his chamber they found in a chest two
shirts of hair made full of great knots, and then
they said: Certainly he was a good man; and
coming down into the churchward they began to
dread and fear that the ground would not have
borne them, and were marvellously aghast, but
they supposed that the earth would have swallowed
them all quick. And then they knew that they
had done amiss. And anon it was known all
about, how that he was martyred, and anon after
took this holy body, and unclothed him, and found
bishop's clothing above, and the habit of a monk
under. And next his flesh he wore hard hair,
full of knots, which was his shirt. And his
breech was of the same, and the knots sticked fast
within the skin, and all his body full of worms;
he suffered great pain. And he was thus martyred
the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred
and seventy-one, and was fifty-three years old.
And soon after tidings came to the king how he
was slain, wherefore the king took great sorrow,
and sent to Rome for his absolution.
  Now after that S. Thomas departed from the
pope, the pope would daily look upon the white
chasuble that S. Thomas had said mass in, and the
same day that he was martyred he saw it turned
into red, whereby he knew well that that same day
he suffered martyrdom for the right of holy church,



|p197


and commanded a mass of requiem solemnly to be
sung for his soul. And when the quire began to
sing requiem, an angel on high above began the
office of a martyr: Letabitur justus, and then all
the quire followed singing forth the mass of the
office of a martyr. And the pope thanked God
that it pleased him to show such miracles for his
holy martyr, at whose tomb by the merits and
prayers of this holy martyr our blessed Lord hath
showed many miracles. The blind have recovered
their sight, the dumb their speech, the deaf their
hearing, the lame their limbs, and the dead their
life. If I should here express all the miracles
that it hath pleased God to show for this holy
saint it should contain a whole volume, therefore at
this time, I pass over unto the feast of his trans_lation,
where I propose with thegrace  of God to
recite some of them. Then let us pray to this
glorious martyr to be our advocate, that by his
petition we may come to everlasting bliss. Amen.