The Constant Conflict between Thomas and the king made the king regard him as a turbulent priest. They were never seeing eye to eye. It was reported to the king that the Archbishop of Canterbury, St Thomas Becket, had excommunicated some Bishops, some of whom were in the good books of King Henry 2. He was requested by the king to reconsider his stance and reverse his decision, but through Archbishop Thomas's testimony and values, he will do no such thing. This angered the king, and he exclaimed Who shall rid me of this turbulent priest an exclamation that was not issued as a command but that sparked up a desire to satisfy the king. Moreover, in another speech, the palace knights were portrayed as lazy, cowardly and ungrateful men taken care of and harboured by the king. So these four Knights took off from Normandy to Canterbury to persuade Archbishop Thomas to reverse his decision concerning the Excommunicated Bishops, and they consequently murdered him because he wouldn't change his stance. This was on December 29th 1170 AD. Pope Alexanda had told King Henry 2 to no longer hear the mass until full penance for Thomas of Canterbury was made.