3. Henry was to blame for this dispute

On two occasions, April 1166 and Feb 1170, the pope forbade the Archbishop of York to crown YH at the request of Becket. (it is possible these were never received). Nevertheless Henry persisted with his eldest son's coronation, an act of defiance. This act demonstrates that the quarrel was by now purely personal

Becket was reluctant to issue the Pope's bulls to excommunicate those involved in YH's coronation, as he just wanted them suspended. Yet Henry had already begun to arrange elections to vacant bishoprics in England, showing a disregard for Becket's position The primate responded in anger, publishing the bulls

Failed to see that Becket would refuse to serve two masters.

Dispute was due to royal judicial rights; the crown's control over the legal process in terms or trials and punishments. The constitutions of Clarendon make reference to this, triggering the dispute between King and primate of the 'criminous clerks'. The CofC show that Henry was also concerned about the relationship between church and state more generally, including the extent of the pope's influence

Royal Judicial Rights:Criminious clerks - the clergy (clerks and even door holders) were entitled to benefit claiming immunity when accused of serious offences. As there was no death penalty within Canon Law, and defrocking/excommunication was embarrassing for the church, a fine was usually the given punishment.Henry wanted to change this rule, that after being defrocked, criminous clerks would receive their appropriate punishment in the secular court.

Wasn't to blame: Henry wished to return to the happy relationship between King and clergy that his grandfather had had

Wasn't to blame: the fact that the barons, bishops and initially Becket accepted the C of C suggests that they were reasonable claims. 

Some constitutions Becket didn't agree with (3/10) Restore the crown's right to control the elections to high ecclesiastical offices Stop vassals of the King from being excommunicated (as well as all royal officials) Make the clergy vassals of the King, to prevent the feudal system being undermined. 

Forced to make penance for his involvement in Becket's murder, though none of lasting significance

I

In each point of law each side was right on its own assumptions. Henry was upholding royal custom, Becket upheld the law of the Church

Left Henry at such a moral disadvantage that he had to agree at Avranches to penance and reparation through crusade, and eventually in 1176 allow clerical appeals to Rome and clerical immunity - Yet he never fulfilled all of these terms.. Success for Henry?

Becket claimed that he suffered persecution and exile because of his fight against the evil customs in England; thus he died a martyr to his cause

Henry had inherited the famous Angevin temper. It was this that led to the murder of Becket

Even Empress Matilda, Henry's mother, disapproved of the innovation of having the English swear to him in writing at the C of C

The only thing stopping the pope from siding with Becket, helping him to defend the rights of the church was his pre-eminent concern with Frederick Barbarossa. Thus, political pragmatism kept him from seeking a confrontation with Henry and 50 Anglo-French bishops. The quarrel became a side issue in the papal schism. Henry let Alexander and Becket know that any extreme action against the English crown or church would be met with a complete rejection of allegiance, and a counter-allegiance with Frederick

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