A flagstone of peculiar appearance is usually shown as that on which the Archbishop died; and “that the spot so marked is precisely the place where Becket fell, is proved by its exact accordance with the localities so minutely described in the several narratives" (Stanley, 78). But the identity of the stone itself is questionable, inasmuch as the Peterborough Chronicle states that Benedict, on being promoted from the priory of Christchurch, Canterbury, to the abbacy of Peterborough, carried off with him the stones on which the martyr's blood had been shed, and made them into two altars for his new church (Chron. Petrib. ap. Sparke). And the story now commonly told—that, where a small square piece is inserted, the original stone was cut out and sent to Rome as a relic-is much more than questionable. As a tradition, it appears to have originated within the present century, inasmuch as it is not mentioned by Hasted (A.D. 1799), nor by any of the earlier topographers, some of whom (as Somner, Battely, and Gostling) were specially connected with the cathedral, and, therefore, could hardly have failed to know the story, if it had been current in their days, or to record it, if it had been known to them. No such relic as that in question has ever been discovered at Rome, although diligent inquiry has been made (Stanley, 78), and although at Sta. Maria Maggiore and elsewhere relics of St. Thomas are exhibited. And the passage of Baronius, which has been referred to by Mr. Morris (390) and others as evidence that "the cardinal legates, Albert and Theodwin, brought back with them [to Rome] a portion of the pavement," in reality gives no countenance to the statement; for the historian's words are" Intulerunt in urbem sacra pignora novi Martyris, nempe quod super ecclesiæ pavimentum respersum fuerat ejus capitis cerebrum, necnon ejus tunicam," &c., 1172, 12.

XXX.-BECKET'S RELATIONS.

I am not aware that any brother of the Archbishop is mentioned in authentic documents; but there are notices of three sisters :

(1.) Mary, already celebrated for her hospitality to Garnier of Pont St. Maxence (p. 7). She was appointed Abbess of Barking in 1173, at the suggestion of Odo, prior of Christchurch, Canterbury, "mandato regis patris, et contemplatione fratris." See Diceto, 570; Gervas. 1424; Flor. Vigorn. Contin., ii. 153; Monast. Angl., i. 437.

(2.) Rohesia or Roheise, whose name is doubtless the same with that of Roësa, which the Lambeth biographer gives to the Archbishop's mother (see pp. 14-5). Garnier tells us that Henry II., on the occasion of his penance at Canterbury,

"La surur saint Thomas merci quist e cria,

E en adrescement un molin li dona,

Bien ualt dis mars par an la rente qu'ele en a."-P. 162.

My friend the Rev. L. B. Larking has published, in 'Notes and Queries' (2nd Series, No. 46), from documents in the Record Office, some notices of payments to Roheise from the mill in question (Eastbridge or King's Mill, Canterbury, for which see Somner, ed. Battely, Append. 5; Hasted, iv. 438). The first entry is in 21 Hen. II. (A.D. 1175). In 31 Hen. II. her son John is admitted to a share in the pension; and three years later he appears alone— from which it would seem that Roheise was then dead. Dr. Lappenberg had before pointed out (n. in Pauli, 103) that there is an entry in the Pipe Roll of 1 Rich. I. (edited by Mr. Hunter for the Record Commission)-" Johanni, filio Rohesie sororis sancti Thomæ, xi. li. de eleëmosyna Regis in molendino Cantuar." (p. 231).

(3.) Agnes, who married Thomas, son of Theobald of

Helles, or Heilli, and, in conjunction with him, founded and endowed an hospital for the brotherhood of St. Thomas of Acre, on the site where Gilbert Becket's house had stood, and which is now occupied by the Mercers' Chapel (Monast. Angl., vi. 645-7; Maitland's London, 886-7). .She is also said to have given, after her husband's death, a rent of ten shillings to St. Saviour's Hospital, Bermondsey; and the deed of gift is witnessed by "Theobaldo milite, nepote Beati Thomæ Martyris," who may probably have been her son. (Carte's Life of the D. of Ormonde, i. Introd. xiv. ed. 1736.) Through this channel it is supposed that the Butlers of Ormonde were connected with Becket, according to an old family tradition, which was set forth in a petition to the King and Parliament in 32 Henry VI., and received a kind of Parliamentary sanction from the granting of the petition. (Ib. viii.-ix.) But the manner of this connexion is very obscure, and it seems likely that the Butlers may not have been descended from Thomas and Agnes, but from another son of Theobald, so as in reality to have no blood-relationship to the family of Becket. (Ib. v. sqq.) Helles is, according to Carte, a barony in Tipperary. (Ib. xii.)

In the letters written during the exile there are occasional notices of some of Becket's relations who had been involved in the general sentence of banishment for his sake. Thus, in Ep. 103, he recommends a sister's son (possibly John, the son of Roheise) to the Dean and Chapter of Rheims, with a request that the boy may be maintained in their house, and compelled to apply to grammatical studies; and, in Ep. 151, he bespeaks the assistance of the Archbishop-elect of Syracuse for "our sister's son G. . ."

According to Mr. Morris, whose "account is entirely taken from the documents presented to the S. Congregation of Rites in 1835" (pp. 386-7, 442), some members of the Archbishop's family remained in Italy, and from these were descended "Blessed John and Peter Becket, of the Augustinian Eremitical Order at Fabriano," who flourished about

scendant of some of those who followed him into exile." andb. for North Italy, 257, ed. 1854.)

It may be well to note here, that Neander (vii. 234, ed. hn) has done Becket an injustice by supposing him to the Archbishop whom Peter of Blois defends (not ogether effectually) against charges of avarice and potism. The letter (Pet. Bles., Ep. 38) evidently relates the next archbishop, Richard.

INDEX.