them accursed, unto the time they came to amendment. And
when they heard this they came to him and would have made him assoil
them by force; and sent word over to the King how he had done, whereof
the King was much wroth and said: If he had men in his land that loved
him they would not suffer such a traitor in his land alive.

"And forthwith four knights took their counsel together and thought
they would do to the King a pleasure and emprised to slay St Thomas
and suddenly departed and took their shipping toward England. And when
the King knew of their departing he was sorry and sent after them,
but they were in the sea and departed ere the messenger came,
wherefore the King was heavy and sorry.

"These be the names of the four knights: Sir Reginald Fitzurse, Sir
Hugh de Morville, Sir William de Tracy and Sir Richard le Breton.

"On Christmas Day St 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 there executed the sentence on them that
were against the right of Holy Church. And that same day as the King
sat at meat all the bread that he handled waxed anon mouldy and hoar
that no man might eat of it, and the bread that they touched not was
fair and good for to eat.

"And these four knights aforesaid came to Canterbury on the Tuesday in
Christmas week, about evensong time and came to St Thomas and said that
the King commanded him to make amends for the wrongs 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 not the King
and all other standing in the curse it shall cost thee thy life. And St
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 before the altar, on
the head. And one Sir Edward Grim, that was his crossier, put forth his
arm with the cross to bear off the stroke, and the stroke smote the
cross asunder and his arm almost off, wherefore he fled for fear and so
did all the monks that were tha