FD of St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, slain by the king’s men in 1170. One-time friends, King Henry II grew exasperated by Becket’s independence. “What a set of idle cowards I keep in my kingdom who allow me to be mocked so shamefully by a low-born clerk,” he said.

Dec 29, 2019 · 2:02 PM UTC

1
4
16
4 knights set out for Canterbury and killed Becket. Henry said they had misunderstood him, but the knights explained: “He doesn't give you questions, he doesn't give you orders. He speaks in a code. And I understand the code, because I've been around him for a decade.”
1
2
15
(The last quote is a paraphrase.)
2