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Hello and welcome to episode 41 of the History of England, Murder in the Cathedral.

Now I realise that I've not been very good at recommending books recently, so this week I'm going to start with the book thing.

My recommended book this week is a rather obviously titled Thomas Beckett by Frank Barlow, and there's a prize for anyone who can guess what the book's about.

Frank's been my most constant companion for the last century or so, and very present company he's been.

Good, well constructed history from the master, but really easy to read at the same time, a man who likes a story.

So if you're really interested in Thomas, and need to know all the ins and outs, this is the one for you.

And as I think you know, you can buy this another great book through my website, thehistrivingland.com, so that Amazon no way you got the idea from.

So last week we left Thomas by the side of the road in his penitence garb, giving himself a jolly good talking to.

Beckett now become a blocker to Henry's reforms, now Henry decided that it was time to fight dirty, no more Mr. Nice Guy, the gloves are off, and all that sort of thing.

But Henry kept his powder dry, waiting for just the right opportunity, because what he didn't want to do was to give Thomas the chance to parade himself again as the defender of the Liberters of the Church against Henry, the evil tyrant, so he needed to find the right opportunity.

Thomas meanwhile was feeling the pressure, he tried to go meet Henry, but Henry refused to see him.

Thomas twice tried to sneak off abroad, but both times he was recognised by sailors and bought straight back.

Henry could have had him at this, for trying to leave the country without permission.

But to use this as an excuse, would have allowed Beckett to argue that he had a right to visit the Pope, a right that Henry was trying to put a stop to do through his constitutions.

But in September, Henry found his excuse. When Thomas failed to answer a summons, in the matter of a land dispute, rather than a church affair.

Which was something of a technical offense, actually, that would normally have been resolved really easily, I've just forgotten.

But technically it was serious enough to allow the court to condemn Thomas to lose all of his movable goods and property.

Now everyone in the court knew that what was going on here, this was just victimisation pure and simple.

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