And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blissful martir for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they they were seeke.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. The pilgrims who set out for Canterbury from all over England are desirous of the help of martyred Saint Thomas Becket. He has been quick to give his help to them when they are sick.