When Henry II became King of England at the age of 21, he made friends with Archdeacon Thomas Becket (12th century), who was fifteen years his senior.  The two best friends partied together, played chess, and hunted together.  So when the see of Canterbury fell vacant, the king made sure that his friend became archbishop.  What happened then was astonishing: the new archbishop took his calling seriously, fasting, praying and serving the poor.  The king’s hopes for a compliant good-time archbishop were dashed.  The medieval Church was, as we would say today, a multinational corporation, above and beyond English law and taxation.  King Henry determined to change this; but Thomas Becket resisted him and for his pains was driven into exile for six years.  On his return, he proved recalcitrant so the king had him murdered.  The archbishop’s last words - ‘I accept death for the name of Jesus and for the Church’ - assured his place in history.