Immediate Aftermath to Becket's Murder

References

Letter in which Arnulf, Bishop of Lisieux, on behalf of all the prelates of Normandy, describes to Pope Alexander III the behaviour of King Henry II, following the murder of Thomas Becket, January 1171.

Frank Barlow (1939). Camden Third Series. Letters of Arnulf of Lisieux, Letter 72 To Pope Alexander III, Early 1171: Offices of the Royal Historical Society. pp. 122–.

Frank Barlow (2011). Edward the Confessor. Yale University Press. pp. 326–. ISBN 978-0-300-18382-5.

Augustin Thierry (1856). Oeuvres complètes: Histoire de la conquête de l'Angleterre par les Normands de ses causes et de ses suites jusqu'à nos jours, en Angleterre, en Écosse, en Irlande et sur le continent ; 2. Letter Arnulf of Lisieux to Pope Alexander III ca January 1171: Furne. pp. 439–.

English Historical Documents, 1833-1874. Volume II - EHD #154 Letter from Arnulf of Lisieux to Pope Alexander III ca January 1171: Psychology Press. pp. 821–. ISBN 978-0-415-14374-5. [Translation]

John Allen Giles (1846). The Life and Letters of Thomas À Becket: Now First Gathered from the Contemporary Historians. Letter CXIII: Whittaker. pp. 357–. [Translation]

Letter from Archbishop of Sens to Pope Alexander III

John Allen Giles (1846). The Life and Letters of Thomas À Becket: Now First Gathered from the Contemporary Historians. Letter 114: Archbishop of Sens to Pope Alexander III: Whittaker. pp. 317–.

Roger of Hovedon Chronica Magistri Volume 2
https://archive.org/stream/chronicamagistri02roge#page/22/mode/1up

King Henry II's Plea of Not Guilty to the Murder of Becket in a Letter to the Pope

Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (Canonized by Pope Alexander III, AD 1173)

Volume 7. Epistles, DXXXI–DCCCVIII, p. 440

MTB 739

https://archive.org/stream/materialsforhist07robe#page/n463/mode/1up

Alexandro, Dei gratia summo Pontifici, Henricus rex Anglorum, et dux Normannorum et Aquitanorum, et comes Andegavorum, salutem et debitant devotionem. Ob reverentiam romanae ecclesiae et amorem vestrum, quem, Deo teste, fldeliter quaesivi et constanter usque modo servavi, Thomae cantuariensi archiepiscopo, juxta vestri formam mandati, pacem et possessionum suarum plenam restitutionem indulsi, et cum honesto commeatu in Angliam transfretare concessi. Ipse vero in ingressu suo non pacis laetitiam, sed ignem portavit et gladium, dum contra me de regno et corona proposuit quaestionem. In super meos servientes passim sine causa excommunicare aggressus est. Tantam igitur protervitatem hominis non ferentes, excommunicati et alii de Anglia irruerunt in eum, et, quod dicere sine dolore non valeo, occiderunt. Quia igitur iram quam contra illum dudum conceperam, timeo causam huic malefielo praestitisse, Deo teste, graviter sum turbatus. Et quia in hoc facto plus famae meae quam conscientiae timeo, rogo serenitatem vestram ut in hoc articulo me salubris consilii medicamine foveatis.

To Alexander, by the grace of God, the Supreme Pontiff, from Henry, king of the English, and duke of the Normans and of the Aquitains, and count of the Angevins, I greet and owe devotion. It is out of reverence to the Church of Rome, and for the love of you, which, as God can testify, I have endeavoured to be faithful and serve constantly up till now that I conceeded Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, in accordance with your command, peace and restoration of his property in full, and gave to him a respectable amount of provisions for him to be able to cross over the sea back to England. Truly he himself made his return not in the joy of peace, but carrying fire and sword, whilst against me he has brought into question matters concerning crown and kingdom. Above all everywhere without cause he brought down excommunication upon those who serve me. In consequence so great has been the unbearable impudence of the man, that the excommunicated and others from England have attacked him, and, about which I am not strong enough to be able tell of without pain, they have killed him. Since it was not long ago that I showed that I was angry with him, I fear [it might be seen that] I may be prejudged to have caused this crime. about which as God can testify, I am deeply troubled. And because I fear this is more a rumour about me than the truth, I beg your serene highness, in this matter, to comfort me with the medecine of your wholesome counsel.


Thomas Greenwood (1865). Cathedra Petri: Books XII & XIII. From the concordat of Worms (A.D. 1122) to the close of the pontificate of Innocent III. (A.D. 1216). Henry's Exculpation to the Pope: Macintosh and Hunt. pp. 263–.