Why were the English bishops divided over Thomas Becket’s struggle with Henry II?

The English bishops were divided over Thomas Becket’s struggle with King Henry II primarily due to conflicting loyalties between their ecclesiastical duties and their obligations to the crown. While Becket emerged as a militant defender of the church against royal encroachment, many bishops—led by figures such as Gilbert Foliot, the bishop of London—remained hostile to Becket or hesitant to support him.12

This division was fueled by several factors:

• Royal Pressure: King Henry II actively sought to ruin or force the resignation of the archbishop, and he found support among bishops who were either aligned with his policies or wary of the consequences of opposing him.2
• Political Pragmatism: Some bishops feared that Becket’s uncompromising stance would isolate the English church, potentially driving Henry to seek alliances with the Holy Roman Emperor and his antipope, which would have further weakened the church's position.2
• Jurisdictional Disputes: The Constitutions of Clarendon created a deep rift regarding the legal authority over "criminous clerks." While Becket viewed the king's demands as an infringement on church rights, other prelates were more willing to accommodate the king’s desire to restore traditional royal control over judicial matters.31

Ultimately, the majority of the episcopate remained either opposed to or cautious of Becket’s confrontational approach throughout his six-year exile.2