Sources for Becket
Sources on the Life and Miracles of Thomas Becket
Latin transcriptions, Middle English poetry and current research on the life of Becket
...the impious knight... suddenly set upon him and [shaved] off the summit of his crown which the sacred chrism consecrated to God... Then, with another blow received on the head, he remained firm. But with the third the stricken martyr bent his knees and elbows, offering himself as a living sacrifice, saying in a low voice, "For the name of Jesus and the protection of the church I am ready to embrace death."
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Grim, Benedict of Peterborough and William fitzStephen as quoted in Douglas, et al. English Historical Documents 1042–1182, 2: 821.
Medieval illustrated Old French poem on Becket (London, British Library Loan MS 88) with English Translation.
See also Nigel Morgan, ‘Matthew Paris, St Albans, London, and the Leaves of the ‘Life of St Thomas Becket,’’ Burlington Magazine, Vol. 130, (1988); 85-96. JSTOR.
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Becket Life and Miracles
Latin transcriptions of Becket miracles recorded by Benedict of Peterborough, John of Salisbury, Allan of Tewkesbury, and Edward Grim.
Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, ed. J. C. Robertson and J. B. Sheppard, vol. II (of I-VII), RS 67 (London, 1876)
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Benedicti Abbatis Petriburgensis, De vita et miraculis S. Thomae Cantuar, ed. J. A. Giles (London: Caxton Society, 1850), e-book via Google Books.
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Translations
E. A. Abbott, St Thomas of Canterbury, 2 vols. (London, Black, 1898), e-book Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
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Becket 2020 Canterbury Cathedral Picture This . . .
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For 2020 this website hosts a series of blogs on Becket-related on items and books held by Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library (and elsewhere in Canterbury), written by guest writers (e.g. Anne Duggan) and postgraduates from University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, each piece has a short bibliography.
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UKRI Project for Becket 2020 celebrations with 3D reconstructions of medieval Canterbury and the Cathedral from Dee Dyas and University of York, plus new research from Caroline Barron on Becket and London. See also overview
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Becket Pilgrim Badges and Material Culture
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British Museum: Search collections database for Thomas Becket for numerous pilgrim badges and other material culture objects related to the martyr.
Museum of London: Over 240 Becket pilgrim badges (and a ring)
Victoria & Albert Museum: Search for ‘Thomas Becket’ within a date range of 1150-1600 for panels, copes, missals, etc including the Lesnes Abbey Missal (c. 1200-1220) from Abbey Wood, Kent founded by Richard de Lucy, an enemy of Becket, founded for forgiveness.
For background to Becket‘s martyrdom see this 2005 documentary by Professors Anne Duggan and Paul Binski.
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Constitutions of Clarendon Blog
Many primary sources on the Constitutions of Clarendon, including Becket images.
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Early Depiction of the Martyrdom
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Julian Harrison‘s post on an early depiction of the martyrdom linking Becket‘s death to Magna Carta.
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Discussion list archive (2014) for primary sources and images for Thomas Becket. Need to sign on with email address to participate in current discussions on all aspects of medieval religion.
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Lawrence Wade, OSB: Life of Thomas Becket
A unique Middle English poem on the Life of St Thomas written in 1497. Manuscript now held by Parker Library.
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