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Mark D. Pipp
Mrs. Armstrong
British Literature
23 October 2014
St. Thomas a Becket
St. Thomas a Becket was born in 1118 to a successful merchant in England. Becket was
educated at Merton Priory and at the University of Paris. When Becket was 25 he became the
clerk of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Later Becket was made the Archdeacon of the church. In
1154 King Stephen died and the Archbishop recommended that Becket become the Chancellor of
the new king. Becket took the the job and soon he and King Henry II became good friends. After
the Archbishop of Canterbury died in 1161, Henry persuaded Becket to become the new
Archbishop. Henry thought that having a friend in the highest position of the church in England
would make the relationship between the church and state better.
Henry wanted to change the benefit of the clergy laws that had clergy members tried in
a court of the church. This law allowed people to get away with murder if they were a member of
the clergy. When Henry tried to change the law Becket protested but was unable to stop the king
from changing the law. In 1164 King Henry wrote up many new laws that made the church have
less power than the state. Originally Becket had agreed to the laws and was ready to sign on
them but eventually changed his mind and feeling that he had betrayed the his duty to the church.
After Becket changed his mind on the laws, King Henry was furious and wanted Becket gone.
Becket and his family were exiled from England for 6 years, had Beckets rivals crown Henry's
son, and took all of Beckets sources of income.

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Becket went to France where he stayed with King Louis the VII. In 1170 King Henry and Becket
met in France and settled their disagreements. Becket went back to England then and
excommunicated the bishops of London and Salisbury for supporting King Henry and refused to
let them back into the church. King Henry was still in France while this was happening and was
so angry about this act that he shouted out What sluggards, what cowards have I brought up in
my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord. Who will rid me of this meddlesome
priest (The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170). Four knights heard king shout this and decided
to sail to England to help King Henry with his problem.
The knights arrived in England and immediately went to Canterbury to find Becket.
Becket was at a service in the cathedral when the knights found him. The knights stormed into
the cathedral and killed Becket on the alter. The knights, who did this to gain King Henrys favor,
became disgraced for the murder. Many miracles were said to happen at the tomb of Becket and
he soon became a saint. The Canterbury Cathedral became a popular place for pilgrims to travel
to and soon it was turned into a shrine for St. Thomas a Becket.

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Works Cited
"St. Thomas Becket - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online." St. Thomas Becket - Saints & Angels Catholic Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

"The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170." The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170. N.p., 1997. Web.
23 Oct. 2014.
Pelayo, Cristina. "Thomas a Becket: Canterbury's Martyr." Renaissance Vol. 5, #2, Issue 18. Vol.
5 #2 Issue 18 2000: 64+. SIRS Renaissance.Web. 16 Oct. 2014.