_Becket's Mother_ (Vol. ii., pp. 106. 270.).--In support of the view of MR.
FOSS with regard to Becket's mother, against that propounded by J. C. R.
(Vol. ii., p. 270.), I would mention that _Acon_ is the ordinary mediæval
name for the city of _Acre_, and appears in the earlier deeds relating to
the hospital in Cheapside, while the modern form occurs in those of later
date; _e.g._ Pat. 18 Edw. II., "S. Thomæ Martyris _de Aconia_;" Pat. 14
Edw. III., "S. Thomæ Martyris Cantuarensis de _Acon_;" but Rot. Parl. 23
Hen. VI., "Saint Thomas the Martir of _Acres_," "the Martyr of Canterbury
of _Acres_." (Deeds in Dugdale, _Monast._ vi. 646, 647.)
This would seem to identify the distinctive name of the hospital with the
city in the Holy Land but the following passage from the _Chronicle_ of
Matthew of Westminster (p. 257.) seems quite conclusive on this point, as
it connects that city with Becket in a manner beyond all dispute:--
"Anno gratiæ 1190. Obsessa est _Acon_ circumquaque Christianorum
legionibus, et arctatur nimis. _Capella Sancti Thomæ martyris ibidem
ædificatur_."
If, as J. C. R. supposes, there was no connexion between the saint and Acre
in Syria, the foundation of a chapel to his honour in or near that city
would seem quite unaccountable. However this may be, the truth of the
beautiful legend of his mother can, I fear, be never proved or disproved.
While on this subject, let me, at the risk of being tedious to your
readers, quote the amusing tale told by Latimer, with regard to this
hospital, in his "Sixth Sermon preached before Edward VI." (Parker Soc ed.,
p. 201.):--
"I had rather that ye should come [to hear the Word of God] as the tale
is by the gentlewoman of London: one of her neighbours met her in the
street and said, 'Mistress, whither go ye?' 'Marry,' said she; 'I am
going to St. Thomas of Acres, to the sermon; I could not sleep all this
last night, and I am going now thither; I never failed of a good nap
there.' And so I had rather ye should go a-napping to the sermons than
not to go at all."
On the name "S. Nicholas _Acon_," I can throw no light. Stow is quite
silent as to its signification.