Who were with Thomas Becket when he died?

Answer 1

Even the accounts of people who were there at the time are not consistent, which is not surprising given the shocking circumstances.

One of the most reliable sources is the account written by Edward Grim shortly after the murder. He was injured trying to protect the Archbishop, so his testimony is first-hand and from his own knowledge.

He tells us that there were five attackers, one of whom was not directly present at the murder. They were the knights William de Tracy, Reginald fitz Urse, Hugh de Morville and Richard le Breton, together with a chaplain named Hugh de Horsea (who was himself a clerk or churchman). Becket initially had a small group of clerics and monks with him, but most of these appear to have fled before the fatal blows were struck.

The knight Hugh de Morville was apparently detailed to guard a small doorway, as the murderers were concerned that the good people of Canterbury would rush to the defence of the Archbishop (in fact an armed mob did arrive, but too late). This means that only the remaining three knights and Hugh the chaplain took part in the murder. Becket was accompanied by Edward Grim and William fitz Stephen, two secular clerks who both later wrote accounts of the murder. If any monks remained to witness the murder, their names are not recorded.

The chaplain, Hugh de Horsea, was afterwards called "Mauclerc" or Bad Cleric because of his involvement in the crime.