Panel 09 - Thomas disputing with King Henry II at the Council of Northampton
© Stuart Whatling, 2008Description:
Having wheedled his friend and Chancellor into the Archbishopric, Henry
assumed he'd be able to rely on Thomas' support for his proposed Church
reforms (a series of measures to reduce Rome's authority in England -
the so-called 'Constitutions of Clarendon'). However, Thomas resisted
the changes and ultimately refused to sign the constitutions. He was summoned
to appear before the Great Council at Northampton on October 8th 1164,
where he was accused of various crimes against the State. Thomas rejected
the authority of the Council to try him and fled to France.
In this panel, Thomas and one of his deacons appear before the seated King Henry II. Thomas enumerates his arguments with his fingers while the King fingers the cords of his cape and listens to the evil counsel of small devil that whispers in his ear.
