pleasure, and emprised to slay S. Thomas, and suddenly departed and took their shipping towards England. And when the king knew of their departing he was sorry and sent after them, but they were on the sea and departed ere the messengers came, wherefore the king was heavy and sorry.
These be the names of the four knights: Sir Reginald Fitzureson, Sir Hugh de Morville, Sir William de Tracy, Sir Richard le Brito. On Christmas day S. Thomas made a sermon at Canterbury in his own church, and weeping, prayed the people to pray for him, for he knew well his time was nigh.
And these four knights aforesaid came to Canterbury on the Tuesday in Christmas week about Evensong time, and came to S. Thomas and said that the king commanded him to make amends for the wrongs that he had done, and also that he should assoil all them that he had accursed anon, or else they should slay him. Then said Thomas: 'All that I ought to do by right, that will I with a good will do, but as to the sentence that is executed I may not undo, but that they will submit them to the correction of holy church; for it was done by our holy father the pope and not by me.' Then said Sir Reginald: 'But if thou assoil the king and all other standing in the curse, it shall cost thee thy life.' And S. Thomas said: 'Thou knowest well enough that the king and I were accorded on Mary Magdalene day, and that this curse should go forth on them that had offended the church.'
Then one of the knights smote him as he kneeled
