but not enough to share: and I believe, if I dared to say it, that his pleasure was increased by the straits to which we were put. After wandering about three or four miles through an unknown forest and frequently in the dark, we would think our prayers were answered if we found by chance some mean, filthy hut. There was often fierce and bitter contention over these hovels, and courtiers fought with drawn swords for a lodging that it would have been disgraceful for pigs to fight for. I sometimes became separated from my own people and could hardly get them together again in three days. O God almighty, thou art king of kings and lord of lords, who art terrible to the kings of the earth, who dost take away the breath of princes and dost give health to kings, in thy power is the heart of the king to turn whithersoever thou dost will. Turn and convert the heart of this king from this unwholesome manner of life, that he may know that he is a man, and may learn to show royal grace and consideration and human compassion to the men who are drawn after him not by ambition but by necessity. . . . You ask me to send you an accurate description of the appearance and character of the king of England. That surpasses my powers, for the genius of a Vergil would hardly be equal to it. That which I know however I will ungrudgingly share with you. Concerning David we read that it was said of him, as evidence for his beauty that he was ruddy. You may know then that our king is still ruddy, except as old age and whitening hair have changed his colour a little. He is of medium stature so that among small men he does not seem large, nor yet among large men does he seem small. His head is spherical, as if the abode of great wisdom and the special sanctuary of lofty intelligence. The size of his head is in proportion to the neck and the whole body. His eyes are full, guileless and dovelike when he is at peace, gleaming like fire when his temper is aroused, and in bursts of passion they flash like lightning. As to his hair he is in no danger of baldness, but his head has been closely shaved. He has a broad, square, lion-like face. His feet are arched and he has the legs of a horseman. His broad chest and muscular arms show him to be a strong, bold, active man. His hands show by their coarseness that he is careless and pays little attention to his person, for he never wears gloves except when he goes hawking. Although his legs are bruised and livid from hard riding, he never sits down except when on horseback or at meals. On a single day, if necessary, he travels a journey of four or five days, and thus anticipating the plans of his enemies he baffles their devices by his sudden movements. . . . He is a passionate lover of the woods, and when not engaged in war he exercises with birds and dogs. He does not loiter in his palace like other kings, but hurrying through the provinces he investigates what is being done everywhere, and is especially strict in his judgment of those whom he has appointed as judges of others. There is no one keener in counsel, of more fluent eloquence, no one who has less anxiety in danger or more in prosperity, or who is more courageous in adversity. If he has once loved any one, he rarely ceases to love him, while one for whom he has once taken a dislike he seldom admits to his favour. He always has his weapons in his hands when not engaged in consultation or at his books. When his cares and anxieties allow him to breathe he occupies himself with reading, or in a circle of clerks tries to solve some knotty question. Peter of Blois, Epistolæ (edited by J. A. Giles, Oxford, 1847), I, 50, 51, 193–195. Translation by A. B. Hawes. 20. The Friendship of King Henry and By WILLIAM his Chancellor The chancellor therefore because of his virtue, his noble spirit, and his eminent merits, was in great favour with the king, the clergy, the army and the people. After business was done with, the king and the chancellor used to play together like two little boys, whether in the palace, in church, in public, or while riding. One day they rode together in the streets of London. A strong wind was blowing, and the king saw a poor old man approaching in thin and worn out clothes. He said to the chancellor, "Do you see that man?" "Yes," said the chancellor. "How poor, how weak he is," said the king, "and how very thinly clad! Would it not be great charity to give him a thick warm cloak?" "Most certainly," replied the chancellor, "and your majesty ought to have the spirit to do it." In the mean time the poor man came up to them, and the king stopped and the chancellor with him. The king quietly addressed the beggar and asked him if he would like to have a good cloak. The beggar, not knowing who they were, supposed they were not in earnest but joking. But the king said to the chancellor, "You are the one to show this great charity," and laying his hands upon him he tried to pull off a fine new cloak made of thick scarlet cloth which the chancellor wore, while the chancellor on the other hand tried to prevent him. Thereupon there was a great commotion and struggle. The courtiers who were following them ran up in astonishment to learn the reason for this unexpected contest. There was no one to tell them, for both king and chancellor were fully occupied with their hands, and seemed to be in danger of falling off their horses. At length the chancellor reluctantly allowed the king to conquer, to draw off his cloak and give it to the beggar. Then the king told his followers the FITZ- self, "I was citizen of my lord, his chaplain, and of his household, called by his mouth sharer of his cares." Fitz-Stephen, although not always approving, did not swerve in his loyalty, and was present at the Archbishop. passed into the service of the king, and became sher to be the murder of the Later he iff of Gloucester, and an itinerant justice. The unrestrained friendship Henry and his chancellor was one between of the most beautiful episodes in the king's stormy career. The chancel- whole story. lor was noted for his dainty attire, which There was a great laugh and some of the courtiers offered the chancellor their own cloaks and capes. The poor old man went away happy with the chancellor's contrast with cloak, enriched beyond his expectation and giving thanks to God. was in sharp the careless dress of the king. Sometimes the king was the chancellor's guest, either simply for his own enjoyment, or in order to learn what was talked about in the chancellor's home and at his table. The king would sometimes send away his horse and come in when the chancellor was already at the table: sometimes he would come with his arrows in his hand, either returning from the hunt or on his way to the wood. At one time he would drink and, after seeing the chancellor, go away again. At another he would leap over the table, sit down and eat. Never have there been two men more harmonious and friendly in christian times. William Fitz-Stephen, Vita Sancti Thomæ (Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, edited by J. Robertson, London, 1877, III, 24, 25). By HERBERT adviser of Archbishop Thomas. Unfortunately, his counsel was never on the side of moderation. 21. Thomas and the Primacy (1162) The king was living at that time outside the kingdom beyond the seas and the chancellor was with him. On account of frequent hostilities on the part of the Welsh and other difficulties in the realm the king determined to send the chancellor to England. This mission he entrusted to the chancellor because the reasons for it were many and important and no one of his own men was so well fitted. Now the chancellor, after some days had been spent in making arrangements for the embassy, just before his departure. went to the court at that time abiding in that stronghold of Normandy which is called Falaise, intending to simply take "You became va cant in 1161 by the death bishop of Arch Theobald. leave of the king and then set out upon his journey. But the king called him aside and said to him in secret, do not yet know in full the reason for your mission. It is The primacy my will that you should be archbishop of Canterbury." The chancellor, pointing to the gay fashion in which he was attired, said with a smile, "What a religious man, what a holy man you desire to place in the sacred seat and over that celebrated and sacred assembly of monks ! Know surely that if by the will of God this should happen, you would speedily turn away your favour from me, and our friendship which is now so great would be changed into bitter hatred. For I am sure that you would assert many claims in ecclesiastical matters and you would demand some things which I could not quietly endure. Then jealous persons would seize the opportunity to interpose and not only would our friendship be destroyed but they would arouse perpetual hatred between us." ... But the king, not at all moved by these warnings of the chancellor which were prompted by his very affection, remained fixed in his purpose, and presently he gave careful and specific directions to the other envoys, men of importance, to make known his wish and desire in regard to the chancellor's promotion, to the sacred assembly of the metropolitan church and to the clergy of the kingdom. This he did in the chancellor's presence and addressing one of the envoys especially he said, "Richard" (it was Richard de Lucy), "if I were lying dead in my shroud, would you strive to have Henry, my first-born, exalted to the throne? "Verily your majesty, I should do my utmost." And the king replied, "I wish you to use the same endeavour for the promotion of the chancellor to the seat of Canterbury." Herbert Bosham. Vita S. Thoma (Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, edited by J. Robertson, London, 1877, III, 180-182). "The words were prophetic; they sum up the of the ponThomas whole history tificate of Becket." Richard de Lucy the Loyal, for twenty-five years justiciar, under Henry II. It was the arguments of de Lucy combined with fear of the king that monks of Canterbury to elect induced the Thomas to the primacy. |