But the succession returned through Matilda, daughter of Henry I and
the Saxon princess. She married Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. This
Geoffrey, called "the handsome," always wore in his helmet a sprig of
the broom-plant of Anjou (_Planta genista_), hence their son,
Henry II. of England, was known as Henry _Plante-à-genêt_.

[Sidenote: Henry II., 1154-1189. House of Plantagenet, 1154-1399.
Thomas à Becket's Death 1170.]

This first Plantagenet was a strong, coarse-fibred man; a practical
reformer, without sentiment, but really having good government
profoundly at heart.

He took the reins into his great, rough hands with a determination
first of all to curb the growing power of the clergy, by bringing it
under the jurisdiction of the civil courts. To this end he created his
friend and chancellor, Thomas à Becket, a primate of the Church to aid
the accomplishment of his purpose. But from the moment Becket became
Archbishop of Canterbury, he was transformed into the defender of the
organization he was intended to subdue. Henry was furious when he found
himself resisted and confronted by the very man he had created as an
instrument of his will. These were years of conflict. At last, in a
moment of exasperation, the king exclaimed, "Is there none brave enough
to rid me of this low-born priest!" This was construed into a command.
Four knights sped swiftly to Canterbury Cathedral, and murdered the
Archbishop at the altar. Henry was stricken with remorse, and caused
himself to be beaten with rods like the vilest criminal, kneeling upon
the spot stained with the blood of his friend. It was a brutal murder,
which caused a thrill of horror throughout Christendom. Becket was