Despite his protests, Thomas Becket was enthroned Archbishop of Canterbury on June 3, 1162. .
Immediately following his enthronement, Becket went through a dramatic change. '"'The previously faithful supporter of the Crown turned his ardour towards service (as he saw it) of the Church'"' (7). This '"'conversion'"' put him in frightful opposition to the king. The tension between the two began when Henry tried to prosecute several law-breaking clerks. Becket asked that the clerks be released to be tried under Church courts, saying that a '"'layman cannot be the judge of clerks'"' (9), while Henry would not allow exemptions from his laws to be made. The tension over this issue came to a climax on October 13, 1164, when the Archbishop was summoned to court to be tried for treason. When the judge was called to give a sentence, Becket announced that as a spiritual leader he would not submit to judgment by a layman and walked out. Becket soon fled England to France and then to the Pope to seek support. .
Following is a description of Becket"'"s six-year exile: .
He manipulates the most important people in Europe first one way and then the other. He spurns attempts at reconciliation, insults his own monarch, annoys his patron the French king, makes things awkward for the Pope, who had enough troubles of his own, and quarrels with almost unparalleled viciousness with men like Bishop Gilbert of London. (15) .
Eventually, however, Henry and Becket met and appeared to reconcile. Becket returned to his office in Canterbury, where he refused to absolve the bishops that he had excommunicated while in France. This threw the King into a fury, and in his anger he cried, '"'Who will rid me of this pesky priest?'"'-not intending anyone to actually kill him. However, four knights overheard Henry"'"s words and took the task upon themselves. The king attended Becket"'"s funeral and did penance for the crime, although he never intended it to happen.