The winter had been bad and Thomas suffered great discomfort from the cold, and as a result became ill and was forced to rest at St Gervase in Rouen while the royal party went on to Falaise.

One day when he was well enough to sit up he wrapped himself in a loose robe and was playing a game of chess with one of his knights when the Prior of Leicester called to see him.

The Prior expressed astonishment to see him in such unclerical garb. ‘Why, my lord,’ he said, ‘you look more like a falconer than an archdeacon. Yet churchman you are. Your titles even now are formidable. Archdeacon of Canterbury, Dean of Hastings, Provost of Beverley and Canon of Rouen. Nor is that all.’

‘What mean you by “nor is that all”?’ asked Thomas.

‘I speak only of the rumours and what is said to be in the King’s mind concerning the Archbishopric of Canterbury.’

‘And what is this then?’

‘That he has it in his mind to make you his Archbishop.’

Thomas rose unsteadily to his feet.

‘Nay, you have heard amiss.’

‘This is what is said in court circles. Those who are intimate with the King are saying that he has mentioned your name in this connection.’

‘It must not be. I know three priests in England whom I would rather see promoted to the Archbishopric than myself.’

‘Are you not an ambitious man then, Chancellor?’

‘My ambition is to do my duty.’

‘Then could you not please God doubly as head of his Church in England?’

‘The King has been my good friend. I know him intimately. I know it would not be good for me to be his Archbishop. I am his Chancellor. As such I can serve him well. It would please me to go on as I am.’

‘The King holds you in such esteem that he would wish to see you head of the Church.’

‘If I became Archbishop of Canterbury I should not hold his favour.’

‘Why should you not?’

‘Because the King likes not those who do not agree with him.’

‘He likes his Chancellor.’

‘We can disagree in secular matters yes, and do. And in these I should be forced to give way to the King. If I were Archbishop I might be called upon to set aside my duty to God in order to please the King.’

‘You’re a strange man, Thomas Becket.’

‘I know myself,’ answered Thomas, ‘and I know the King. I shall decline his offer of the Archbishopric.’

It was difficult to continue with that game of chess. Uneasy thoughts had settled in Thomas’s mind and come to stay.


The King sent for him at his castle of Falaise.

‘Hey, Thomas,’ he cried. I trust I see you well. Why, you look thin and wan, man. Be of good cheer. Soon we shall set sail for England. I’ll warrant our green fields will make you well again.’

The King’s eyes were glazed with sentiment. He was thinking of Rosamund in her bower waiting to see him. It would in truth be good to be home again.

He turned to Thomas and there was deep affection in his eyes.

‘I wanted to talk with you, Thomas, about a certain matter. It’s months since old Theobald died.’

‘Almost a year,’ said Thomas.

‘And the See of Canterbury has been vacant all this time. Not that I will complain about that. But it seems we must have an Archbishop there and my thoughts have alighted on the man best suited to fill the part.’

‘I know of several priests who would fit the role admirably, my lord.’

‘I know of only one and that makes the selection easy.’ Henry took a step towards Thomas and laid his hands on his shoulders. ‘My good friend, it gives me pleasure to reward you for all your services to me. I have decided that you shall be my Archbishop of Canterbury.’

‘You are gracious, Sire, but I refuse the honour. It is not for me.’

‘Not for you! What in God’s name do you mean? Not for you! It is for you. I say it’s for you.’

‘My lord, it would not be wise.’

‘What’s this? You and I together. Do we not rule this land, eh? Do I not listen to you and take your advice?’

‘When it pleases you to do so,’ said Thomas.

The King laughed aloud and slapped Thomas on the shoulder.

‘True enough, my good friend. The Church has ever been a thorn in the side of our kings. I have often thought to myself, I will never suffer that thorn. And how shall I avoid it? By putting my good friend Thomas at the head of the Church. Have we not been good friends through your Chancellorship?’

‘The best,’ said Thomas.

‘I like our friendship, Thomas. That’s why I like you with me. I like to go hawking with you. I like to sup at your table. You are as my brother. There, is that not an honour to you? The grandson of great Henry and the great-grandson of greater William chooses you, the son of a merchant, as the best friend he ever had.’

‘Such condescension is flattering,’ said Thomas. ‘I, as a humble merchant’s son, am aware of the honour done to me. I value that friendship which you are gracious enough to acknowledge, and it is because I cannot bear to spoil it that I decline the post you offer me.’

The King’s temper was beginning to rise.

‘If my lord will excuse me …’ began Thomas.

‘Nay,’ roared the King. ‘I will do no such thing. You will stay here and you will go on your knees and thank me for my munificence in offering you this great post which is what you desired more than anything else, the peak of your ambition, the post on which you set your heart ever since you entered the Church.’

‘May I speak?’

‘You may.’

‘If I take this post it could impair our friendship.’

‘How so?’

‘If we did not agree …’

‘Are we not now often in disagreement?’

‘It is so. But that is in matters of government in which I must perforce give way to you. You are my King and I am your servant. If I became Archbishop of Canterbury there is one whom I must serve before you and that is God.’

‘A plague on such talk! My ancestors have quarrelled constantly with the Church. There has ever been conflict between them. It is to avoid this that I wish you to be my Archbishop. You and I will have our disagreements but should we ever quarrel seriously?’

‘I must repeat that my first allegiance would have to be to God. You are my King and my friend. I would have it remain as it stands now. I beg of you, my lord, to accept my decision.’

The King stared at Thomas. ‘I could force you …’ he began.

‘Nay, that is one thing you could not do,’ contradicted Thomas.

‘Then I must perforce persuade you. Now, your looks do not please me. I like not to see my Chancellor so wan. You shall not travel until you are completely recovered. I must go to England and you shall follow me when you are well.’

‘You are gracious to me, my lord,’ said Thomas with some emotion.

‘Sometimes I wonder at myself,’ answered the King. ‘I have a fondness for you, and I promise you it will not lessen, even when you are my Archbishop.’


Henry went back to England where there were certain matters to occupy him. Leicester and Richard de Luci were good fellows, and it was a fine thing to have such loyal servants; but neither of them pleased him as Thomas did. He missed his company.

When he thought of him he began to laugh. He could never fully understand Thomas. That love of silken garments, those lily-white hands! Whatever he said, Thomas loved luxury. Thomas was a clever fellow, none more clever. Was he capable of putting on a front for everyone to see … even his King? Was that pious exterior hiding a sensual man? He couldn’t hide that love for the good things of life. His household articles were of the finest. He lived more like a king than the King himself.

How he would love to discover Thomas in some intrigue! Nothing would delight him more. How amusing to discover him … say in bed with a woman. How they would laugh together.

Then you and I, Thomas, would go adventuring together, he thought. I can imagine no greater delight.

‘My first allegiance is to God.’ That irked. Thomas, you are human like the rest of us. You want old Theobald’s post. You must. And when you have it, you and I will show the Pope of Rome that England can do without the Church, that the King of England is more powerful than any Pope, for all that he’s a soldier and a lecher.

If only he could discover Thomas in some awkward situation.

He had left Eleanor at Westminster and travelled to Stafford on one of his frequent journeys that his people might see that he cared for their well-being and at the same time made sure of their good conduct. The country was becoming law-abiding again. The roads were safe as they had been in the days of his grandfather. He had abolished the brigandry of the road when no traveller had been safe. These robbers had no wish to lose hands, feet, ears, nose or eyes for the sake of someone’s purse; and the King’s judgement was relentless. No one could be sure when he would put in an appearance, so there must consequently be no straying from the strict laws which he had laid down.

Some years before the King had enjoyed his visits to Stafford for living there was a young woman of whom he had been quite enamoured. Her name was Avice and she had borne him two sons. She no longer appealed to him. Rosamund had filled his thoughts since he had first discovered her and he had found that no woman satisfied him as she did, so that whenever he had the time to dally it was to Woodstock he went.

Avice might no longer be the slender young girl who had caught his fancy but she was still a very attractive woman - some seemed to think more so in her ripeness than she had been when very young.