The Martyrdom of Thomas Becket

The painting of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket on the upper tier of the west end of the nave is now just barely visible as a faint outline on the wall. Becket is shown saying Mass at an alter (a departure from the historical account where it is said he was murdered at evensong) as the Knights of Henry II murder him. The monk Edward Grim is the server at the left of the alter. The inscription identifies the knights as Reginald Fitzurse and William de Tracey being the first to strike with their swords, whilst behind them stands Hugh Moreville and Richard Brito.

The departure form the traditional account of the time of the murder is interesting as this painting seems to have been very heavily influenced, if not copied, from the illustrations in William Caxton's illustrated translation of the Golden Legend (below). The scene is almost identical from the time of the murder, the amour of the knights and the general composition of the painting which can not be dismissed as mere coincidence. Many other paintings in the Guild Chapel seem to have been influenced or copied from Caxton's Golden Legend.