Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/62

 Now I must refer to another trouble which rent the Church, and led the nation to assert its abhorrence of the claims of Rome. This is concerned with Henry II. and Thomas à Becket. It may be well to give a few facts about Becket's life. He was born in London in the year 1118, and was the son of a merchant. He was educated by the Augustinian Friars at Merton, in Surrey, and afterwards in London. A portion of his life was spent in Paris, whence he returned to business in London. After this he took deacon's orders, and went to Bologna, Auxerre, and Rome to study law. He became a rector in London, and also in Kent. He was a prebend of S. Paul's and Lincoln, and Archdeacon of Canterbury. He was a great friend of the king, and became his chancellor. In his early days he upheld the king's judgment, and was sent by him in 1157 to Paris to negotiate a marriage for Prince Henry, of whom he was the tutor. In the year 1161 the Archbishop of Canterbury died, and Henry then wished Becket to fill his post; but Becket was not willing to undertake the responsibility. He said that his past secular life made him worthy of such a position. He further objected, because, as he said, he knew "the very heart of the king; that he would desire authority in Church affairs to which, as Archbishop," he said, "I should not consent. I should either have to lose the king's favour or that of God." Apart from this, Becket was only in deacon's orders. All objections, however, were over-ruled. He was one day ordained as priest, and on the next day consecrated for the primacy. From that moment a complete change took place in his character. All at once he threw up