Within days of the murder of Archbishop Thomas on Tuesday, 29 December 1170, miracles began to be reported at the martyr's tomb in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. Becket's fame as a miracle worker spread, and people began coming to his tomb to make requests of the saint, even before his official canonization by Pope Alexander III in 1173. Nor were the pilgrims confined to the lower, poorer classes - King Henry II himself made a pilgrimage in 1174 to ask for Becket's forgiveness for any part he may have played in Becket's murder, and as penance he allowed the monks of Canterbury to scourge him; Henry was facing a rebellion by his sons, who were backed by King Louis VII of France, and the king of Scotland had also invaded England from the north. When the king of Scotland was captured by Henry's troops on the very day that Henry abased himself at Becket's tomb, everyone took it as a sign that Becket had forgiven the king. Some years later, King Louis VII also visited Becket's tomb to pray the saint's aid in curing his only son and heir Philip, who was seriously ill. Philip recovered and in gratitude Louis lavished gifts upon the monks at Canterbury.
Photography Ken Chambers ARPS