felt by Becket's contemporaries, even while they admired his gallantry, to be inconsistent with his profession and position. In his warlike achievements, even more than in the pomp and luxury of his peaceful days, it was considered that, when he had "put on the chancellor," he had "for a time put off the deacon." a

a Herb., vii, 17.

CHAPTER IV.

THE ARCHBISHOPRIC.-A.D. 1161–2.

a

ALTHOUGH Becket's outward life, at least, during his tenure of the Chancellorship, was as that of a layman, devoted to the enjoyments, the vanities, the pride and luxury and ostentation of this world, it is said that not only had the general opinion fixed on him as likely to be Archbishop of Canterbury, but Theobald himself was desirous to have the Chancellor and Archdeacon for his successor.b And soon after the death of Theobald, which took place in April, 1161, it appeared that the King's intention had been rightly divined. The Chancellor was about to take leave of his master at Falaise, with the purpose of proceeding into England on political business, when Henry told him that the chief object of his journey had not yet been mentioned— that he was to be Archbishop of Canterbury. It is said that Becket drew the King's attention to the gay and secular dress which he wore, as a proof of his unfitness for the highest spiritual office, and warned him (as

a "Certe dum magnificus erat acceptus omnibus, et solus dignugator in curia, dum legis con- nissimus summo pontificatu ab temptor videbatur et cleri, dum universis conclamabatur et sinscurriles cum potentioribus sec-gulis." Joh. Sarisb., Ep. 193.

tabatur ineptias, magnus habe

batur, clarus (charus?) erat et

b See Appendix III.

Hildebrand is said in a similar case to have warned

a

Henry IV. of Germany), that, if he should become Archbishop, their friendship must be turned into bitter enmity. It may have been that the smile which accompanied the words was intended to counteract their effect; at least, it is certain that Henry did not understand them seriously, but continued to suppose that, in promoting his favourite counsellor, he was forwarding his own views of policy as to the affairs of the Church. "Richard," he said to the Chief Justiciary De Luci, who was about to accompany Becket into England, "if I were lying dead on my bier, would you endeavour that my first-born, Henry, should be raised to the kingdom?" "Certainly," was the answer, "to the utmost of my power." "Then," said the King, "I wish you to take no less care for the promotion of the Chancellor to the see of Canterbury." We are told, however, that Becket himself declared on other occasions his unwillingness to undertake the burden of the primacy. To the prior of Leicester in particular, who

a

Bonizo, ap. Oefel. Scriptores | arms occurs among them. Thus, Rerum Boicarum, 811; Card. de one of Becket's partisans, after the Aragonia, ap. Murator., iii. 304. Justiciary had incurred the enmity This story, however, is now gene- of the party, calls him "proprii rally rejected. nominis inimicus" (S. T. C., iv. 254); and another, "Luscus noster

b Herb. vii. 26.

с

Southey, Book of the Church, cujus et mentis oculum penitus

had visited him when recovering from an illness, before the King's announcement of his choice, he had said that he knew three poor priests in England whose promotion to the office he would rather desire than his own; and he had expressed the belief that, if he were appointed, he must forfeit the favour either of God or of the King. It was only at the urgent and repeated solicitation of the pope's legate, Cardinal Henry of Pisa, that he at length consented to accept the office."

After all the struggle which had taken place between Henry I. and Anselm, and the seeming victory of the ecclesiastical cause, the appointment of English bishops had virtually remained in the King's hands, inasmuch as his licence was necessary before the clergy proceeded to an election, and his approval before the consecration of the person elected. At Canterbury, however, where the cathedral was connected with a monastery, and the monks of Christchurch possessed that privilege of election which elsewhere belonged to a chapter of canons, there was a continual struggle for independence both of the crown and of the suffragan bishops, who claimed a share in the choice of their metropolitan. In the

a Fitzst., 193. It is said that the prior rallied him on the inconsistency of his dress with his ecclesiastical pluralities, and perhaps this may have suggested Becket's answer to the King.

b Roger, 108; Joh. Sarisb. in S. T. C., i. 322; Anon. Lamb., 78.

C 46

Cum autem juxta regni consuetudinem [rex] in electionibus faciendis potissimas et potentissi

mas habeat partes," &c. Pet. Bles. Ep. 64 (Patrol. ccvii.).

d See Inett, ii. 179; Lingard, ii. 311-2. There were then seventeen bishoprics in England, and four in Wales. In eight of the English cathedrals there were monks ; in eight, secular canons; in one, canons regular (Rob. de Monte, Patrol. clx. 471). The right of the bishops to share in the election

a

present case it is evident that there was a difficulty in winning the consent of the monks, and it is probable that some part of the thirteen months during which the vacancy lasted may have been spent in secret negotiations with them. It was not until May, 1162, that a deputation of three bishops, with the Justiciary de Luci, and his brother the abbot of Battle, appeared at Canterbury, bearing the King's licence for the election of an archbishop, and his recommendation of the Chancellor Thomas for the office. Here, as in many other parts of the story, there is a discrepancy between the old biographers—each of them, apparently, making such a statement as he conceived to be most for the honour of his hero. Thus, while some represent the monks as hesitating to elect Becket only because he was not, like former archbishops, a monk, and as delighted with the nomination of a person otherwise so admirable, we are told by others that his character was fully discussed, and that his courtly and secular habits were freely handled by objectors. Whether willingly, however, or under the terror of the penalties with which the commissioners are said to have been armed, the prior and monks of Christchurch agreed in choosing the royal nominee, and a day was appointed for their attendance at Westminster, where the election was to be completed, with the con

d

was cancelled by Innocent III. in | monks, 13. 1206. Regest. ix. 205 (ib. ccxv.).

a Grim seems to intimate something of this kind by saying that the promotion of Becket was deferred until the King should extort [extorqueat] the consent of the

26.

b Garnier, 56*; Grim, 13.

с

Roger, 106.

d Anon. Lamb., 76; Herb., vii.

e Foliot, Ep. 194, p. 268.