Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

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.