Becket And Other Plays Part 13

Come on, come on! it is not fit for us To see the proud Archbishop mutilated.

Say that he blind thee and tear out thy tongue.

BECKET.

So be it. He begins at top with me: They crucified St. Peter downward.

ROGER OF YORK.

Nay, But for their sake who stagger betwixt thine Appeal, and Henry's anger, yield.

BECKET.

Hence, Satan!

[_Exit_ ROGER OF YORK.

FITZURSE (re-entering), My lord, the King demands three hundred marks, Due from his castles of Berkhamstead and Eye When thou thereof wast warden.

BECKET.

Tell the King I spent thrice that in fortifying his castles.

DE TRACY (_re-entering_.) My lord, the King demands seven hundred marks, Lent at the siege of Thoulouse by the King.

BECKET.

I led seven hundred knights and fought his wars.

DE BRITO (_re-entering_).

My lord, the King demands five hundred marks, Advanced thee at his instance by the Jews, For which the King was bound security.

BECKET.

I thought it was a gift; I thought it was a gift.

_Enter Lord_ LEICESTER (_followed by_ BARONS _and_ BISHOPS).

My lord, I come unwillingly. The King Demands a strict account of all those revenues From all the vacant sees and abbacies, Which came into thy hands when Chancellor.

BECKET.

How much might that amount to, my lord Leicester?

LEICESTER.

Some thirty--forty thousand silver marks.

BECKET.

Are these your customs? O my good lord Leicester, The King and I were brothers. All I had I lavish'd for the glory of the King; I shone from him, for him, his glory, his Reflection: now the glory of the Church Hath swallow'd up the glory of the King; I am his no more, but hers. Grant me one day To ponder these demands.

LEICESTER.

Hear first thy sentence!

The King and all his lords--

BECKET.

Son, first hear _me_!

LEICESTER.

Nay, nay, canst thou, that holdest thine estates In fee and barony of the King, decline The judgment of the King?

BECKET.

The King! I hold Nothing in fee and barony of the King.

Whatever the Church owns--she holds it in Free and perpetual alms, unsubject to One earthly sceptre.

LEICESTER.

Nay, but hear thy judgment.

The King and all his barons--

BECKET.

Judgment! Barons!

Who but the bridegroom dares to judge the bride, Or he the bridegroom may appoint? Not he That is not of the house, but from the street Stain'd with the mire thereof.

I had been so true To Henry and mine office that the King Would throne me in the great Archbishop.r.i.c.k: And I, that knew mine own infirmity, For the King's pleasure rather than G.o.d's cause Took it upon me--err'd thro' love of him.

Now therefore G.o.d from me withdraws Himself, And the King too.

What! forty thousand marks!

Why thou, the King, the Pope, the Saints, the world, Know that when made Archbishop I was freed, Before the Prince and chief Justiciary, From every bond and debt and obligation Incurr'd as Chancellor.

Hear me, son.

As gold Outvalues dross, light darkness, Abel Cain, The soul the body, and the Church the Throne, I charge thee, upon pain of mine anathema, That thou obey, not me, but G.o.d in me, Rather than Henry. I refuse to stand By the King's censure, make my cry to the Pope, By whom I will be judged; refer myself, The King, these customs, all the Church, to him, And under his authority--I depart. [_Going_.

[LEICESTER _looks at him doubtingly_.

Am I a prisoner?

LEICESTER.

By St. Lazarus, no!

I am confounded by thee. Go in peace.

DE BROC.

In peace now--but after. Take that for earnest.

[_Flings a bone at him from the rushes_.

DE BRITO, FITZURSE, DE TRACY, _and others (flinging wisps of rushes)_.

Ay, go in peace, caitiff, caitiff! And that too, perjured prelate--and that, turncoat shaveling! There, there, there! traitor, traitor, traitor!

BECKET.

Mannerless wolves! [_Turning and facing them_.

HERBERT.

Enough, my lord, enough!

BECKET.

Barons of England and of Normandy, When what ye shake at doth but seem to fly, True test of coward, ye follow with a yell.

But I that threw the mightiest knight of France, Sir Engelram de Trie,--

HERBERT.

Enough, my lord.

BECKET.

More than enough. I play the fool again.