Summons to the Council had been issued for the week following Michaelmas [Sept 29th] , for appearance on the Tuesday, 6th October
Chronology of Trial
| October 1164 Julian Calendar recokoning | ||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
Chronology of the hearing [according to William FitzStephen's account] is given here
Tuesday, October 6th Becket arrives, king is out hunting.
Wednesday, October 7th Becket complains his lodgings were occupied by William de Courci.
Thursday, October 8th Case of John the Marshal v. Becket.
Friday, October 9th King passes sentence on Becket for Case of John the Marshal v. Becket.
Saturday, October 10th State Trial of Thomas Becket commences concerning loans made my king to Becket during Toulouse campaign.
Sunday, October 11th King in Council with advisers, Becket spends day at his lodgings.
Monday, October 12th Becket is ill; he cannot attend court in person.
Tuesday, October 13th Final day of the State Trial of Becket who is declared to be a traitor.
Wednesday, October 14th Before dawn Becket flees secretly into exile.
ca Tuesday, October 20th King Henry pronounces sentence on Becket.
This chronology is not entirely apparent in Garnier's description of the events. FitzStephen was an eye-witness, but Garnier was not, but learned of them at 2nd or 3rd hand.
The following is a translation of the State Trial of Becket at the Council of Northampton in October 1164 [Part 2] from the Life of St. Thomas of Canterbury by Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence.
Stanzas 293-397
Lines 1461-1985
Original Text:
Constitutions of Clarendon: Garnier: The State Trial of Becket at Northampton (Anglo-Norman French)
English Translation
293
The king did not yet want at this moment to leave his case at that; he also wanted to hear from him, so he said, about his accounts when he was his chancellor, about how much he had [collected and] delivered up [to the treasury]. The archbishop replied that he did not wish to plead on this, as the day had not yet arrived for the submission of accounts for assessment. 1465
294
The king sent an order that he should be ready on the morrow to respond and render his accounts in full. The archbishop, who did not lack courage, said that it would not be a reasonable day on which to hold a fair plea. The king swore by the eyes [of God] he must appear [before him] in the morning. 1470
295
When he saw that he no longer had the affection of king Henry, he fell to his feet and cried to him for mercy. He [the king] told him [Thomas] that he acknowledged and confessed that he had raised him up [to his dignity]; but that which he [the king] had done for him [Thomas] , there was no way for him [the king] to undo.
<<By the eyes of God,>> he [the king/Becket?] said, <<you have just brought shame on me.>> 1475
296
Into the other room in which he was in before the king went, full of anger and wrath, red with rage and sweating. The bishops were all summoned to appear before him. (The archbishop was left by himself, like as if he had lost his way.)
<< By the eyes of God,>> he [the king] said [to the bishops], <<give me advice what to do.>> 1480
297
>>Archbishop Thomas was my servant; he collected all my taxes [rents/income] for many years. And now that he is archbishop he does not want to render either account or anything else about them. I want to hear your views on this.>>
None of them said a word; all of them kept silent. 1485
298
When he saw that they were unable to speak about this, he seethed with a furious anger.
<<By the eyes of God,>> he said, <<can none of you advise me what to do?>>
Then he turned to the bishop of Winchester: <<Sire father,>> he said, <<and will you tell me what to do? You are the oldest [wisest]; you must counsel us.>> 1490
299
<< Sire,>> the bishop said to him, <<since you have sought this from me, I will tell you everything that I think:
I can tell that since he was consecrated, he is no longer subject to your laws, not even to render account to you, even if he was your administrator. Take very great care before having him arrested for this.>> 1495
300
Then after this the king flew into a great rage, when no one at all wanted to give him their judgement. He returned back to the [audience-]chamber in anger. The archbishop stood up when he entered. And, as if he was only a [lowly] servant boy, he threw himself at his feet. 1500
301
And all the other bishops fell at his feet [too] pleading on behalf of the archbishop.
When he saw them all thus arranged gathered around him, he said:
<<By the eyes of God, why are you humiliating me? No one has been so much shamed by his own [followers/subordinates].>> 1505
302
Now the archbishop saw he would not have any other remission. Towards evening he went back to his lodgings. He felt a very bad pain in his side, which endured for a day and a night. This was occasional in nature, and often caused him grief; because it was a suffering which would keep on recurring. 1510
303
But the next morning the king personally sent for him [to appear]. By right and the eyes of God he would have his account. He [Thomas] said that he could not come to him, because he was suffering from anguish [illness/panic attack/pain?], and if God pleased his sickness would pass and that he would then appear in court as soon as he could. 1515
304
The king swore by the eyes [of God] that he must come to render his accounts, whether he wanted to or not. The archbishop sent him a counter message: for the love of God to excuse him, [for the sake of] He who created the whole world. 1520
305
When king Henry saw that he could not get his way, he thought that he [Becket] might be feigning everything [his illness] to deceive him. He sent two earls to see for themselves [the reality of] his infirmity: he of Leicester, who was renowned for his wisdom, and he of Cornwall, in order to tell him [the king] the truth about it. 1525
306
And when they came there, they saw for themselves the [Becket's] illness. They told him [Becket] that the king had commanded through them that he should come to the court. He explained to them that his pain had very grievously tortured him throughout the night, and that was still gripped by it, but that he had sweated it out a little. 1530
307
And begged them for the sake of God that they would let him lie in his sick bed and if the king would allow him until the morrow, he would come to the court to hear his pleasure. He would not fail to be there alive or dead; even if he had to be carried there laid out on a bier. 1535
308
On behalf of the king the earls granted him [Becket] this respite. They said the king in truth would want on the morrow his accounts to hear; and that nothing should divert him from this.
He would be there, so he said
And they returned, and explained to the king about how they had found him. 1540
309
Afterwards that same day he was made acquainted with some reliable information: two powerfully wealthy barons announced to him in truth that, when he went to the court, that it had been arranged he would thrown into a prison, [so dark] that he would not able to see his feet, where he would be put to death without delay. 1545
310
When he heard this, his body began to shudder all over. A holy man said to him, to whom he gone to make his confession, that on the morning of the morrow, during the sevice [Matins] to God, that he should chant [pray] to St. Stephen, the First Martyr]; [after this] never anymore would they, his enemies, ever be able to harm him. 1550
311
The next day our hero rose at dawn, as the pain of his illness had gone. With great devotion he chanted this mass and to God, his Lord, laying before Him his case, and prayed that He would guard him from a calamitous fate. 1555
312
Although for this mass which he celebrated then, the bishop of London, who spoke for the king when he was in the presence of the Pope then accused him of the following, saying that he had chanted this mass like a sorcerer to spite the king. But the truth prevailed. 1560
313
But after chanting [Mass] he did not take off his [priestly] vestments, but sat there dressed as he was sending his manservants for the bishops. When they came well did he address them with fine words:
<<My Lords,>> he said to them, <<for the sake of God counsel me;>> 1565
314
>> because the king has risen up against me with such great wrath that no man can either speak or reason with him, he seeks to do me a great wrong using the best men in the empire. Well you know and see by whom he pushes and pulls, no one except mighty God can save me from it. 1570
315
>> And for this reason I am very afraid, and in great concern
because I know the plan and secret of the king
His most close confidants have revealed them to me in good faith
and for this reason I will go to the court dressed in this,
with the my cross in my hand, for my own security [/safety].>> 1575
316
Then one of them replied to him, who was not concerned for him in any way, and who had advised the king both directly and on the method:
<<Sire, what do you want to do? do not make such a great tumult when you go to court with your sword drawn and in your hand, because never would the quarrel end.>> 1580
317
>> If you go to court like this, sword drawn, wearing your hauberk, with your lance in your hand jousting, between you and the king both anger and animosity will arise from it: there will never be anyone who will be able to intervene for peace between you two; there will never be a day on which Holy Church does not cry. 1585
318
>> Much have you [already] insulted and quarelled with the king. If you go the court thus you bring great dishonour to him. You will be asking for trouble, if you go there with arms. Your sword is blunt, his [large two-handed] sword is sharp. If he draws his sword against you, you cannot prevail. 1590
319
Put down your cross, shed your [formal] vestments and have your cross borne before you. It is in great humility you must go to the court, so that no one can either reprimand or blame you, for [it is only] thus can one better speak with the king about peace.>> 1595
320
Our hero responded very humbly at this moment: <<I have not drawn my sword, neither will I bring an attack against him; neither will I hand over my cross to anyone else, whoever comes running there. I seek peace; that peace within me which no one lets me live with and greatly will I be upset, if Holy Church is in tears.>> 1600
321
>> Neither do I seek to do wrong nor to dishonour the king. There is no man in the whole world who desires more his honour; and I am very sad that I have received his hate. But if his sword is sharp, mine is more rigid; and it is my duty to obey God, our sovereign Lord. 1605
322
>>Now I beg and command you to give me such counsel that I should neither defile God nor the world [secular authority].>>
<<My lord,>> said one of them to him, <<be humble; hand back the archepiscopate to the king into his mercy. You will not have peace otherwise: of this you can be assured.>> 1610
323
<< You have given me bad counsel,>> he said. <<I will not follow it. Now go to the court, and I will make myself ready. If it pleases God, I will be ready for truer advice.>>
He then took off his alb [long white tunic]; without delaying he put on again a cope [cloak/mantle] and a surplice; this I well know. 1615
324
He went to the king's court as soon as he was ordered to go there. On top of his surplice he was clad with his stole. He put on the cope of a canon on top of that; well he knew that this would create a quarrel with the king. He mounted his horse and commended himself to God [bid Adieu]. 1620
325
Greatly he feared the king and his cruel resentment, for having known him well without any, like anyone who had served him for a very long time. And he knew well that the king had hate for him for a long time, and that he had very few friends at this Parliament [king's great council/assize/legal hearing/assembly]. 1625
326
I wonder why the king hated him so much, if for no other reason than he had abandoned his service, and his advice in everything, and parted ways from him, and that he had the courage to stand up against him in some way or other. He was not even a gentleman; and his friends were the poor. 1630
327
And for that reason the king who had raised him up so high and shown him such great friendship that there was nothing of which he did not confide his [secret] plans with him, the king found that he had more than anyone else provoked his anger.
Great disdain it seemed to him that he had ever given him a start. 1635
328
The anger of the king is not a child's game. Whoever he begins to hate, whether for a small reason or large, never will he love him again whilst he is alive. The will of the king is law, so say some; and the lords on earth all obey. 1640
329
The man of God had deserted his earthly lord and taken up all with God, his creator, whom he wished to serve in faith and love.
Well he knew that he would suffer a very heavery burden. He feared imprisonment more than the loss of his honour. 1645
330
St. Thomas, the good priest, went into the court, and took up the arms of God which were his security. The archepiscopal cross he carried in his right hand, and he held the reins of reason in his left hand. And appointed as his advocate, Jesus Christ, his Master. 1650
331
He dismounted on foot immediately in front of the great hall. He entered right there. His horse was led away. He found there sat both young and old. In his hand he held the cross. In the ante-chamber the king was with his closest confidants. 1655
332
There entered Thomas with a very few companions; few in number he brought some his own therein, so we have heard it told.
The king was found there surrounded by his circle of confidants : bishops and abbots, earls and barons. He entered the field [of battle] all alone, like a fine champion. 1660
333
The bishops rose up against him. For the cross which he bore, they blamed and castigated him:
as tne king his lord was much reviled by it, [and] towards him he will fall into great emnity.
So they advised him to give it into someone else's charge. 1665
334
Robert of Hertford was going to ask him: <<Bishop he is,>> so he said <<well he can order it.>>
But the bishop of london there went and declared the law: <<His deans,>> so he said, <<by right they ought to carry it.>>
[and] From his [Thomas'] hands he wanted to pull it away by physical force. 1670
335
<<Mad>> he said, <<you were, and are, and [always] will be, when you with [your] sword drawn attack the king. If he draws his on you, how are you going to defend yourself? because great dishonour you have done to him when you enter his court with fire and flame, and armed with your cross.>> 1675
336
>> But put aside your cross, give it to another; this will not anger our lord the king.>>
Said he [bishop] of Worcester: << my lord bishop, wait. Leave his cross be; do not take charge of it: it is not very good to carry the cross you see.>> 1680
339
Many tried to deprive him of it [the cross]; but he would not give it up to anyone else. You should have seen it, all the time holding onto it with both hands. There were few bishops who wanted to support him, but neither did Roger of Worcester want to abandon him. 1685
340
Archbishop Thomes continued to advance further. The archepiscopal cross by himself he bore ; he did not wish to give any one charge of it, because he was firmly afraid. He sat down on a bench, and put his reliance upon God. In his hand he held the cross, and he also carried it within his heart. 1690
339
In the other room beyond sat the king with his counsellors, where he took counsel from the best known. Before the archbishop did not come., as the king was towards him shaking with anger. All the legal business of the day was transacted
through spokepersons. 1695
340
By ire and bad counsel was the king deceived, to be against the saintly man which strongly provoked him. The king had in former times got to know him, and now thought he was such as as he had before seen him. But he had completely changed; the Holy Spirit was within him. 1700
341
Now the king wanted to bring an action against him about some clerics but the barons all persuaded him to desist from pusuing this case because if any action he wanted to start against clerics the bishops would all be seen to come together. He would thus not be able to pursue the case against the archbishop. 1705
342
As he sat on the bench barons came and went two by two and three by three between him and the king. It was told to him secretly by some very close confidant his death was being conspired, and that he should be on his guard. And many had sworn and taken an oath by their faith to do it. 1710
343
I do not know if the king had made the arrangments for wanting the archbishop to be killed or bound [in chains/imprisoned]. But men came to him often that day to announce. Perhaps it was possible that the king wanted to frighten him so that he could win the case by threats. 1715
344
Then king Henry made the bishops come before him, declaring with vigor of necessity that he wanted that they should keep their promise to him that they would repect the customs and laws of the land, and that the archbishop would not be exempted from this. 1720
345
The bishops went to the to the archbishop to talk about it. Saying that their must to keep the laws of the king, when by obedience he had made them to grant them and in the word of the truth to confirm them completely. In no sense did they want to be disloyal to him. 1725
346
He himself too, they said, must also observe them because, he made them accept them,and they must not depart from them; aand made them swear an oath to it, and they must not go back on their word. And the king wants mow both to learn and hear whether he wants to abandon the loyalty [he owes] to him. 1730
347
St Thomas listened well to everything they had said. Then he replied to them with great humility:
<<God is in him,>> he said, <<who loves truth; He does not love God who loveth not loyalty. And God hates treachery and all iniquity.>> 1735
348
>> And the laws that you have said which the king attaches himself to, they are not loyalty, but are the opposite, disloyalty, against God and reason, intended to destroy the clergy. I will not hold to them whilst I am alive. By holy obedience you are forbidden to hold to them. 1740
349
It is not wise whoever has fallen over, if he does not want to stand up again, and it is better that one should recover quickly than to delay it too long. And for this that the [king's] court wants to do harm to me so severely. and you, who should by reason be with me, I appeal, as I have no wish to go against reason.>> 1745
350
When had understood it, he concentrated on thinking very carefully: to the Pope's court [Papal Curia] he would appeal, to learn if he could thereby be delivered and saw all around him bishops, not one amongst them against the king would utter a word. 1750
351
Thus seeing well and sensing that one [amongst them] was seeking his death. And seeing all the bishops standing around him. <<My Lords,>> he said, <<I am appealing because the calling [profession] is in great need of it; because this court without any mercy intends to do me harm.>>
<< Sire,>> said he of of London, <<spare me from this as far as I am concerned.>> 1755
352
<<Sire,>> said he of London, <<do not involve me in this.>>
<<I will not do that.>> Said he [Thomas]. But if I am attacked, I order you all to seek justice sparing no one for any reason.>>
Then he of Winchester was struck with fear. 1760
353
<<Sire,>> said he, <<for the sake of God, listen to me: render up the archepiscopacy into the mercy of the king. You will not have peace otherwise; this clearly is the way.>>
He did not speak out of evil but as a faithful counsel, for he saw a great danger might arise and a disorder full of death. 1765
354
<<I will not do this,>> said he back to him. <<Never upon my life will I render up to lay person my everything, because it would be contrary to God and against the loyalty [I owe Him].>>
Said then he [the bishop] of Chichester: <<If it [the choice] were left up to me, [I would] become [simply] Thomas, without this power.>> 1770
355
When most of them realised the [huge] difficulty Thomas, the archbishop, had found himself in they felt a great sadness about it. They summoned archbishop Roger immediately, and the bishop of London, who had long hated him, and he of Chichester, who also neither liked him: 1775
356
<<My lords, for the love of God. if the archbishop is killed, you will be accused of it, because the whole country that you hated him. If you do not get him released we will be in a bad situation: the king and holy church and ourselves will be shamed.>> 1780
357
Then the bishops went to discuss amongst themselves. They deliberated how they could get him released; and saying that they would go to tell king Henry that, if he they were to go before the pope to appeal that he could thus well depose him from his see. 1785
358
To the king they went to speak, to seek his mercy for him. <<Sire,>> they said, <<for the sake of God, do not act thus, Leave this case be that you are now embarked upon; because for it it will be said generally to give you a worse reputation, and we would be damned and suspended for it. >> 1790
359
Sire, said they to the king, let us deal with it. Well you know that he made us confirm your laws; and now he wants us to correct this and be completely disloyal. And so for this we will all now go together to make an appeal. Thereby we will be able to have well deposed from his see. 1795
360
Then said king Henry to them: <<You have my consent to do this.>>
<<Now let us,>> said they, <<get ready to do it.>>
In this one can either hear of wrongdoing, or another hears of loyalty. Then they returned to him [Becket]. They were all in a state of confusion. 1800
361
<<We are going to make an appeal [to Rome]>> said they, <<because we are too upset. Because that which we had consented to the king, and by obedience you had command it, now you forbid it. For such disloyalty that you wish to put upon us, we have appealed [to Rome] against you. 1805
362
To king Henry, those of his council have spoken about it and when the king heard that he had made an appeal [to Rome] and that he was acting completely against his wishes, I know not how to show you what was in his heart and thoughts, but to those on his council he did n0t conceal it from them. 1810
363
<<Sire,>> they then said [to the king] <<you must let this be. As, if you wish to rely on our advice, the archbishop will lose; we will make him completely give in. For against you he wants us to commit perjury and treachery, and [go] before the Pope we want to challenge him about it.>> 1815
364
<<Off you go,>> he said, << now you turn your thoughts to it.>> Then they came back to him [Thomas]. He listened to them.
<<Sire,>> they said to him, <<when so you have wronged us, you thus cause us to lose the loyalty we owe to the king. We are appealing [to Rome], as you do to us too great a harm.>> 1820
365
By this appeal they much reassured the king, and much by this act his wrath allayed. For that which he now refused that which this he had accepted. He thought, if in the God's court they find against him, that for this he must lose both the cross and dignity [of archbishop]. 1825
366
The prelates of York, and London, as far as [I can see] both gave advice to him privately that, seeing so great a person, he ought not to harm him, but on the morrow have him seized; [and] when no one was about, secretly and quietly to have him locked up. 1830
367
By this [advice] the king's wrath was much allayed, and he countermanded the mischiefs which he had already set up, and turned away from the evil schemes. Because that which he had thought to do him was feeble. God had abated the strength of his evil thoughts. 1835
368
The king then sent to him [Becket] some of the knights [of his household?]. He wanted his accounts rendered in full to him of how much which he had lent him [given into his charge], when he was his chancellor, of the thirty thousand pounds in sterling silver pennies [at the time of the Toulouse campaign]. But he [Becket] responded extremely well to the go-betweens. 1840
369
<<My lords,>> he said to them, <<without having to enter a [formal] plea [{in court?} in my defence] at all, my sovereign lord must not demand from me [these] accounts. Because all this great amount of money that you have here specified, I alloted and put it to use on his business; my sovereign lord has often heard it accounted for [before]. 1845
370
>> And [moreover] when, in London, I was elected and elevated to this dignity [to that of archbishop], at his command I was [declared] to be quit of all claims, as well you know it, and I was released there and then from debts [accounts] and all else. For these reasons I have no wish to re-enter a plea [in my defence on a matter] which is over and done with.>> 1850
371
When they had made known these words to the king, he became quite incandescently red with rage, more than charcoals burning to ashes.
<<By the eyes of God,>> he said, <<he does not wish to render accounts [to me]? And [therefore] as he is my liege man, I will pass sentence for it!>>
<<Sire,>> they said, <<but [do it] for something else for which he wants to commit a much greater wrong [to you].>> 1855
372
>>If he is your liege man, he must act loyally towards you, and by law always to uphold and defend your honour. And when he wants [contemptuously] to abandon and deny your court [and justice], and appeal to another court [the Roman Curia], you can do him harm for this, as in that case he wants greatly to dishonour you.>> 1860
373
>> For this you can pass judgement [upon him].>> Said the barons.
<<Let's proceed to the judgement without delay.>> Said he [the king].
To the sentencing they went into the house of Nero like madmen, for to pass judgement upon their spiritual father. 1865
374
Archbishop Roger left the council. Said he to archbishop [Thomas]: <<Take pity upon yourself, and likewise upon all of us too, becuase we will be treated badly, if you do not do evrything king henry wants.>>
St Thomas said to him: <<Satan, be gone from here.>> 1870
375
When the sentence was both arrived at and agreed, and was both announced and recorded before the king, the king then sent [to Becket] two members of his closest associates: Earl Reginald of Cornwall, and he [the Earl] of Leicester, who was extremely wise. 1875
376
They both stopped straight in front of the archbishop. The Earl of Leicester spoke first: <<Sire,>> said he, <<the king informs you through us that you will listen to this, that you have been judged and sentenced.>>
Then the good priest looked at him severely: 1880
377
I will not hear of any sentence being passed on me today,>> said the good archbishop, <<because I have [already] made an appeal [to Rome].
Said the earls [to him]: <<How can you possibly avoid it when you must towards him be loyal, do homage and be his liegeman? [When] from him you hold great tracts of land, and large fiefs in baronage, 1885
378
>> And when in barony you hold from him great fiefs, the judgement of his court and laws you will bear.>>
<<I hold from him>> said St. Thomas, <<neither fiefs, nor heritages, nothing in barony; but everything is charity; and all these are to be considered as alms given [to the Church] in perpetuity [frankalmoign].>> 1890
379
>> That which has been willed as gifts to Holy Church by ancestors of his, are to be considered as granted in perpetual almoign. Never a word has been mentioned of barony [vassalage. The king has ratified it in his charters completely as thus: granted in almoign, in perpertuity. 1895
380
>> And for this reason,>> he said to them, <<on behalf of God [Whom] you defend, by the Christianity upon which from us you depend, that upon me today I forbid you to pass sentence.>>
The Earl replied to him: <<After such a defence I will not interfere; [as far as I can see] you are rendered utterly quit.>> 1900
381
Then said Earl Robert: <<Speak then [deliver the judgment], Earl Reinald; I will say no more, when the defence comes from on high [God].
<<I will not do it,>> said the [other] Earl, <<so save me God on high. No one charged me to do this: I will not deliver it.>>
<<Speak it [pronounce the judgment], if you want to, because Reynaud you are in sin.>> 1905
382
<<Sire,>> said Earl Robert, <<wait, for the sake of St. Denis, until your response has been heard by king Henry.>>
<<How?>> said archbishop Thomas, <<Am I then a prisoner?>>
<<You are not under arrest, by St. Lazar!>> said the Earl.
<<And if so, I'm leaving!>> replied the friend of God. 1910
383
Then the two powerful barons [vassals of the king] returned to the king, and the saintly archbishop left for his lodgings. He swiftly exited from the royal chamber, taking no companions with him except the Lord God Spiritual. In his right hand he held the cross of an archbishop. 1915
384
And as he departed from the royal chamber [courtroom], [there were] judges and barons, whom I must not name. They cried out at him loudly, with shouts and violently: <<The traitor is leaving. Look at him, Look at him!>>
He advanced [across the room], not saying anything to anyone of them. 1920
385
Neither did Earl Hamelin [of Surrey] want to keep silent. When he saw that archbishop Thomas was leaving, he screamed out loudly at him, and not speaking in a low voice, groaned: <<It is as a felon,>> he said to him [in a denigrating manner], <<as an evil traitor, thus you leave!>>
Even Hugh le Wac shouted so loudly that he became almost completely exhausted. 1925
386
Hurrying furiously to make his exit from the chamber, when he was crossing the middle of the chamber, he tripped up on a pile of firewood, almost but not falling over. There screamed at him Randolph de Broc, saying: <<There goes the traitor.>>
The saintly man did not say a word, but continued to make his way [across the room]. 1930
387
In the hall there were many who called him traitor. From all sides they were shouting loudly there. There would not have been a louder roar, even if the city had been overthrown. Even quoits of straw were thrown at him. He did not want to argue with them. He had gone beyond that. 1935
388
So did the Jews, when they judged the Man of God. Vilely they had screamed at him, hit and beaten him; they had vomitted and spat at him right in middle of his face. God willingly suffered this for sake of the sins of mankind, and this our man for to rescue the clergy from ignominy. 1940
389
The wicked thought they were serving the king's will, both varlets and sons of whores, when they heckled St.Thomas and battered him with quoits [of straw], as Randulph [de Broc] had commanded them to do. But those who feared God and loved Him sighed with grief and shed tears in secret. 1945
390
Then the king was told how they had shouted at him [Becket] and that one of them wished both to harm and kill him: this shamed the king. So the king commanded and declared by ban that he [Becket] and his vassals should freely be allowed to leave. 1950
391
No sooner than our hero was on his horse, he was rushing off. With great haste he arrived at the gate [to the castle]. He found it locked . He became very distressed. He was afraid that he would be arrested and held captive. But God who had not abandoned him released him by Divine power. 1955
392
The archbishop had with him his squire, one who had the name Tronchet. He had a great skill. He [Tronchet] saw the keys to the gates [of the town] afar off hanging on a branch. Immediately he seized them, not wanting to waste any time there. He unlocked the gate, without having to call for the gatekeeper to come there. 1960
393
God did not want to leave the archbishop there. Of all the keys which he [the squire] could have seized with his two hands, the first key that he fixed upon was the right one. The porter was heard beating a scoundrel; and [whilst that was happening] our hero made his exit, he who was much beloved of God. 1965
394
The Earl of Leicester, who had heard the cries, told the king that the archbishop was being shouted at, and that it was a great disgrace that a man with such high rank was being heckled. He ought not to allow it, otherwise he might get the blame for it. Then the king commanded that he should be let be. 1970
395
As soon as he had dismounted [from his horse] he went into the monastery [church]. He asked if it was time to chant the Nones, but time had gone past Nones. He [therefore] sang both Nones and Vespers, because sooner or later he did not forget that he was in the service of God. Willingly he served Him; [well] he had recompensed Him. 1975
396
And when he left the minster building, he called for his servants, asking [for some food] to eat. [But] all had run away from him, both clerics and [his household] knights. There was not even six [of them] to be found there, even if he had need of them, because fear of the king had made them flee. 1980
397
Then he asked that one should let the poor come in, ordering that the places at the tables of the refectory to be filled by them. I believe that he was thinking of [much] else than of filling his belly. Nevertheless, he ate enough, all at his leisure, and made it seem that all was well, to embolden his own people. 1985
References
Guernes (de Pont-Sainte-Maxence); Jacques Thomas (2002). La vie de Saint Thomas de Canterbury. Volume 1. Peeters. pp. 108–. ISBN 978-90-429-1188-8.
Guernes (de Pont-Sainte-Maxence); Jacques Thomas (2002). La vie de Saint Thomas de Canterbury. Volume 2. Peeters. ISBN 978-90-429-1202-1
Guernes (de Pont-Sainte-Maxence); Janet Shirley (1975). Garnier's Becket: translated from the 12th-century Vie saint Thomas le martyr de Cantorbire of Garnier of Pont-Sainte-Maxence. Chapter 3: Northampton: Phillimore. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-0-85033-200-1.
Guernes (de Pont-Sainte-Maxence); ed. Jean-Guy Gouttebroze & Ambroise Queffélec (1990). La vie de saint Thomas Becket. Libr. H. Champion. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-2-85203-111-1.
Guernes (de Pont-Sainte-Maxence) (2013). A Life of Thomas Becket in Verse. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. ISBN 978-0-88844-306-9.
Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall - Wikipedia
Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester - Wikipedia
Hamelin de Warenne, Earl of Surrey - Wikipedia
Hugh le Wac (Wake), de Ne'greville (c.1110 - 1176) - Genealogy
Arthur Collins (1741). The English Baronetage: 56. Wake, of Clevedon: Tho. Wotton. pp. 465–70.
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