Winchester College possesses the manuscript below. Watch this short video to learn about the book. Beneath the video I give a complete description of it, a short biography of Becket and its author, and an exploration of its significance.
The above manuscript, entitled The Life and Miracles of Thomas Becket, is from between 1190 and 1200, and forms part of the Fellows' Library at Winchester College. It was owned by William of Wykeham and gifted to the college upon his death in 1404. The manuscript is an invaluable resource for historians.
There are 211 parchment folios bound in a 20th-century alum-tawed pigskin, i.e. white leather, over wooden boards. The book is 30.5 centimetres tall and 21 centimetres wide.
The text was written by William of Canterbury and contains both a life of Becket and a collection of miracles attributed to him. The collection of miracles is almost three times the length of the biography.
Thomas Becket was Henry II's Lord Chancellor and best friend, and was nominated by Henry to the See of Canterbury, in the mistaken hope that it would bring the church and state closer together. When Becket disobeyed Henry's orders, four knights murdered him in his own cathedral. He was canonised by Pope Alexander III only a few years after death, and Canterbury Cathedral became a site of pilgrimage for many.
William joined the monks of Canterbury after Becket had fled England in 1164 (because Becket wouldn't formally agree to less clerical independence in the Constitutions of Clarendon). William only met the archbishop upon his return from exile in November 1170 when he was ordained a deacon. William was one of nine medieval authors to write a full biography of Becket, but only one of four authors to have witnessed his death.
The manuscript held by the Fellows' Library is significant primarily because of its text. It is the only surviving complete version of William's account, including both Becket's life and miracles.
Furthermore, William's account is unique. William began to write about Becket's life after his canonisation. This means that it was not to help persuade the Pope of his sanctity, which increases the likelihood of its accuracy. William's miracle collection, however, partly served the purpose of persuading the Pope — he began writing his miracle collection before Becket's canonisation.
In fact, William sets out his purpose for writing immediately before the illuminated initial, above left, which possibly represents Becket. He wanted to inspire readers by the struggle of the 'strong athlete'. Like Thomas, readers should not flee from the challenge of God, but enter into his stadium.
The manuscript also contains significant passages in early Middle English, see below.
Exhibition - Thomas Becket: Murder and the Making of a Saint: godtres.wixsite.com/cornucopia/post/exhibition-thomas-becket-murder-and-the-making-of-a-saint
Winchester College – Collections: winchestercollections.co.uk/collection/thomas-becket
Inside the Fellows' Library – Exploring the Rare Books of Winchester College: youtu.be/u1R4zI4jrxE
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