Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (Canonized by Pope Alexander III, AD 1173)

This seven-volume work, published 1875–85, brings together all Latin materials concerning the life and fall of Thomas Becket.

James Craigie Robertson (Edited by), J. Brigstocke Sheppard (Edited by)

9781108049313, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 November 2012

678 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.8 cm, 0.98 kg

A scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, who became canon of Canterbury in 1859, James Craigie Robertson (1813–82) edited this seven-volume work, published between 1875 and 1885, for the Rolls Series, but he died while preparing this final volume, which was completed by Joseph Brigstocke Sheppard (1827–95). Superseding the earlier work of J. A. Giles, the volumes form a collection of contemporary Latin lives and letters relating to the life of Thomas Becket (c.1120–70). Rising through the ranks to become royal chancellor and then archbishop of Canterbury, Becket fell dramatically out of favour with Henry II and, on his return from exile, was famously murdered in the cathedral church at Canterbury. Following his canonisation in 1173, his reputation grew considerably throughout western Christendom. Volume 7 comprises a valuable collection of Latin letters sent by or to the archbishop, originally gathered together by Alan of Tewkesbury.

Epistolae ad historiam Thomae Cantuariensis archiepiscopi pertinentes
Index to the letters relating to the history of Archbishop Becket contained in the fifth, sixth, and seventh volumes.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]