Elisabeth Austin PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

1070, at the instance of King William. 64 No extant text fIxes Thomas
as ducal chaplain, and his fIrst appearance in the offIcial archives
dates to Whitsunday 1068, when he appears in the phalanx of royal
chaplains witnessing a confIrmation at Westminster. 65 Digby's
chronology stands.
William appointed Thomas to York at his Whitsun court on 24
May 1070. Consecrated, after some delay, by Lanfranc at
Canterbury, he journeyed with his fellow archbishop to Rome in the
autumn of 1071, and received his pallium from Alexander II.
Thomas' pallium letter suggests that the new prelate held a high
opinion of himself, for the pope recommends that he pay as much
attention to his conscience as to his exterior. 66 Thomas would hold
the see of York for thirty years, the longest episcopate among the
fIrst generation of Norman bishops.
Contemporary chroniclers unite in praise of his excellence. His
first York biographer is fulsome. In addition to reforming the
Minster and adorning it with books, treasure, and learned and
virtuous canons, Thomas himself stood as a model of virtue.
No other archbishop in his time had more personal dignity, or
was more generally popular with great and small. For none was
more generous or less severe, nor more agreeable in any
company whether on serious business or in clean fun. In pretty
well all matters he was lovable, praiseworthy, and reverend. 67
6 4 Jumieges Charter, p. 213: eujus femine clamor perveniens ad Willelmum
dueem jam factum regem et ad Matildam uxorem ejus ... feeit rex ... tenere
plaeitum ... Rainald reports that John of Avranches (1067-79) adjudicated;
Thomas took York in 1070.
6SReg. #22.
66MRA I, f. 41; printed Hey, iii, #4.
67 Hugh, p. 20: ... quonee alter episeopus tempore suo persona deeeneior, nee
magnis et minimis magis unanimi(er dilectus, quia nee magis liberaJis nee
44