Pope Alexander, (saith the English Festival,1) sent letters, into England to the Archbishop Stephen, and to other Abbots and Prelates, commanding them to take up Thomas Becket's bones, and to lay them in a shrine, and to set it where it might be worshipped of all Christen people.2 Then the Bishop ordained a day, when it should be done. So over even, while they might have space: he toke with him the Bishop of Salisbury, and other monks and Clerks many, and went to the place, where Thomas had lain fifty years. Then they knelled all on the earth, praying to Thomas devoutly of help. Then four took up the tomb, with great dread and quaking, and there they found a little writing, which was this. Here lieth and resteth Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate ⟨p. 182⟩of England, 3and the Popes Legate, slain for the right of holy Church the fifth day of Christmas. Then for great devotion that they had of the sight, all cried: Saint Thomas, Saint Thomas. And then they toke the head to the Archbishop to kiss, and so they kissed it all. And then they beheld his wounds, and said: They were ungracious that wounded thee thus. And so laid him in a shrine, and covered it with clothe of gold, and set torches about it burning, and the people to watch it all night. Then on the morrow came all the states of this land, and bare the shrine to the place there as it is now, with all reverence and worship that they could.
Pope Alexander, (sayth the Englishe Festiuall,1) sent letters, into England to the Archbishop Stephen, and to other Abbottes and Prelates, commaunding them to take vp Thomas Beckettes bones, and to lay them in a shryne, and to set it where it might be worshipped of all Christen people.2 Then the Byshop ordayned a day, when yt should be done. So ouer euen, while they might haue space: he toke with hym the Byshop of Salisburye, and other monkes and Clerkes many, and wente to the place, where Thomas had layen fyftye yeres. Then they kneled al on ye earth, praying to Thomas deuoutly of help. Then foure tooke vp the tombe, with great dreade and quakyng, and there they founde a little writing, whiche was thys. Here lyeth and resteth Thomas Archebyshop of Cantorburye, Primate ⟨p. 182⟩of Englande, 3and the Popes Legate, slayne for the ryghte of holye Churche the fyfte daye of Christmasse. Then for greate deuotion that they had of the syghte, all cryed: Sainte Thomas, Saint Thomas. And then they toke the head to the Archebyshop to kysse, and so they kyssed it al. And then they beheld his woundes, and sayd: They were vngratious that wounded thee thus. And so layde hym in a shryne, and couered it with clothe of golde, and set torches aboute it brennyng, and the people to watche it all nyght. Then on the morowe came all the states of thys lande, and bare the shryne to the place there as it is nowe, with all reuerence and worship that they coulde.
- 1Of Beckettes translation. Note.
- 2A new idol set up.A new idol set vp.
- 3Becket the popes martyr & saint.
