Editing Theobald of Bec (section)

===Life at Bec===

In 1127 Theobald was made [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]] of Bec,<ref name=Stephen27/> after Boso succeeded William as abbot. Theobald became abbot in 1137,<ref name=Stephen27>Davis ''King Stephen'' p. 27</ref> following Boso's death in June 1136. The monks of Bec unanimously elected him to be their new abbot without first consulting the [[Archbishop of Rouen]], [[Hugh de Boves]], who consequently threatened to void the result. [[Audoen]], the [[Bishop of Evreux]], and brother of [[Thurstan]], the [[Archbishop of York]], intervened with Hugh and persuaded him to ratify the election. Another problem then arose when Hugh demanded a written profession of obedience from Theobald, which Theobald refused to provide;<ref name=Salt3/> no previous abbot had made such a profession. Theobald resisted for 14 months before a compromise was reached through the intercession of [[Peter the Venerable]], [[Abbot of Cluny]], allowing Theobald to give a verbal profession to Hugh.<ref name=Salt5>Saltman ''Theobald'' p. 5</ref>

No documents survive from Theobald's tenure as abbot, nor is there any information on the administration of the monastery during his period of office, except that 47 monks were admitted to Bec while he was abbot. Theobald travelled to England on business for his abbey at least once during his abbacy, to supervise the monastery's lands in England, a trip that took place shortly before his selection as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in 1138.<ref name=Salt6>Saltman ''Theobald'' p. 6</ref>