Garnier Becket tries to see the Young King December 1170

Extract from
http://txm.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/bfm/pdf/becket.pdf
https://goo.gl/xyem88
Stanzas 954 - 989Lines 4766 - 4945

954
Mais poi après iço qu’il revint d’ultre mer,
Ne volt pas longement en sun sié demurer
Que il n’alast al rei de la terre parler.
Mais ainz i fist un moine en sun message aler,
4770 Richar, qui de Dovre out l’iglise a governer.

955
Le jovene rei aveit a Wincestre trové.
La erent del païs li barun asemblé,
Deien, arcediachene, persones e abé,
Par le conseil des treis qui esteient sevré
4775 De comune de gent, e Gefrei l’Espusé.

956
Sis eglises aveit el regne senz pastur.
Pur c’erent asemblé celes genz a cel jur,
E li prince e li conte e des baruns pluisur,
Pur eslire e sortir pastur a cele honur.
4780 D’iluec durent passer ultre mer senz demur.

957
La durent les persones e eslire e doner,
Par le conseil des quatre que m’oïstes nummer.
N’i voldrent arcevesque ne primat apeler,
Ne pluisurs des evesques, que jo n’i voil celer,
4785 Ces qu’il sorent qui voldrent en lealté ester :

958
N’i voldrent pas aveir l’evesque de Wincestre,
Ne dan Bertelemeu l’evesque d’Execestre,
Le gentil e le buen Rogier de Wirecestre,
Ne l’evesque d’Ely, qui n’i out cure d’estre.
4790 A tel sacre ne dut produem metre sa destre.

959
En nul liu ne deit estre evesques ordenez,
Tant n’i avra evesques venuz ne asemblez,
Senz conseil del primat ; ço rove li Decrez :
De treis evesques seit, se besuig surt, sacrez ;
4795 Senz comant del primat ne deit estre alevez.

960
E s’um deit el pais nul evesque ordener,
Hum i deit les evesques del reaume mand
E ceaus qu’um n’i purra aveir ne asembler,
Lur message od lur letres i deivent faire aler,
4800 Saveir mun s’il voldrunt cel sacre graanter.

961
S’evesques u prestre est esliz e alevez,
U diachenes, par prince, que il seit degradez ;
E se nul ad tenu seculers poestez,
E par celes purchast divines dignitez,
4805 Ostez seit de comune e del tut deposez.

962
Jo ne vei clerc ne lai tenir lei ne decré ;
E cil qui pis le tienent, ço sunt li ordené.
Car pur ço que il criement perdre lur dignité,
Se sunt del tut suzmis a laie poesté ;
4810 Quel part que li venz turt, se plessent od l’oré.

963
Ne sunt pas fil Jesu, ainz sunt tuit forslignié.
N’erent uan, s’il poent, pur Deu crucifïé ;
Mult enviz perdereient ço qu’il unt enbracié.
Ne sunt pas né del ciel, n’i unt lur vis drecié :
4815 De terre sunt furmé, vers la terre enbrunchié.

964
Li evesque devreient tut le munt adrecier ;
Buen humme deivent estre, buen clerc, né de moillier.
Bon’ente en bon estoc deit bien fructifïer ;
En malvais estoc vei bon’ente mal fruchier :
4820 Qui malvais arbre aluche, malvais fruit deit mangier.

965
Diables ad les princes e les reis avoglez.
Cil qui ad malvais pere, malvais’est s’eritez ;
Cil qui ad fieble chief, sovent est flaelez ;
Quant li filz fait le pere, li ordres est muez :
4825 Li ciels est suz la terre, n’est un point estelez.

966
Quant li reis fait pastur, tel le deit esguarder
Qui il puisse sun cors e s’aneme comander.
E quant de gré le fait tel qui tost volt verser,
[149] E fait pure esmeralde en plum encastuner,
4830 N’en voil altrui que lui jugement demander.

967
Um deit a saint’iglise doner si net pastur
C’um li puisse sun chief suzmettre par honur.
Saint’iglise est espuse al soveraing Seignur ;
E s’um done a s’espuse malvais guverneür,
4835 A Deu e a s’espuse en fait um deshonur. –

968
A Wincestre est li mes l’arcevesque venuz.
Mais li uis de la chambre li fu mult defenduz ;
Car de clers e de lais fu dutez e cremuz,
Qu’il n’aportast tels briés u n’eüst pas saluz
4840 E par quei alchuns d’els ne fust dunc suspenduz.

969
Li messagiers parla mult enseignïement,
E dist qu’il n’aportout nul malveis mandement :
Li primaz aime mult e le rei e sa gent.
Tant ad fait que il out le jovene rei present.
4845 Parfunt li enclina e parla humblement :

970
« Thomas li arcevesques, fait il, de Cantorbire,
Legaz del sié de Rome, primaz de tut l’enpire,
Salue rei Henri, qui d’Engleterre est sire.
Asez l’avez par altres, Sire reis, oï dire ;
4850 Par mes lettres purquant le vus ai fait escrire,

971
E pur ço que jo voil que par mei le saciez :
Que mei e vostre pere, qui ert vers mei iriez,
Que Deus li pius nus ad par sa grace amaisiez,
En concorde e en pais e en amur lïez.
4855 Mais pluisurs en i ad qui en vei coreciez ;

972
E me volent vers vus mesler e mal tenir
E l’amur e la pais desfaire e envanir ;
Dient que jo vus voil la corune tolir.
Mais einsi m’aït Deus, qui tuit deivent servir,
4860 Si me doinst Deus la joie celestre partenir,

973
Cum jo pluisurs reaumes, od cel que vus avez,
[150] Vus voldreie aveir ja par ma char conquestez,
Si que mis sancs i fust en partie wastez,
Mais si que jo n’en fuisse de Deu achaisunez,
4865 Si m’aït a la fin la sainte Ternetez.

974
E coment vus quereie ne mal ne deshonur,
Qui jo tienc, e dei faire, pur rei e pur seignur
E de tut le reaume e eir e successur,
E qui j’aim sur tuz hummes, en fei e en amur,
4870 Senz mun seignur le rei, qui me mist en l’onur ?

975
Mais de c’est en mun quer grant amerté asise,
Que ne vus ai el chief la corune d’or mise,
Sulunc la dignité de nostre mere iglise ;
E pur ç’ai par mes lettres vostre bunté requise
4875 Que puisse a vus parler d’el, d’iceste mesprise. »

976
Bien aveit cil Richarz sun message conté.
Mais ses conseilz aveit al jovene rei loé
Qu’il n’at a l’arcevesque a cele feiz parlé ;
E danz Gefreiz Ridel li ad dit e juré
4880 Que li vielz reis l’en ad sun curage mustré :

977
Il ne volt pas qu’il deie a cel humme parler,
Qui le volt del reaume, s’il puet, deseriter,
La corune del chief e tolir e oster.
Dunc fist a l’arcevesque dous chevaliers aler ;
4885 Thomas de Turnebug en oï l’un nummer,

978
E Jocelins i est de part le rei venuz :
Tuz les recez le rei li aveit defenduz,
Viles, burcs e chastaus ; mar i sereit veüz.
Ja ert li arcevesques tresqu’a Lundres meüz.
4890 Alout parler al rei. A Suerc est descenduz.

979
« Coment, fait saint Thomas, avez me desfïé ?
– Nenal, fait Jocelins ; mais ço vus ad mandé
Li reis. Car trop avez envers lui meserré,
E leis e us volez oster de sun regné,
4895 La corune tolir al jovene coruné.

980
Vus menez par sa terre les chevaliers armez,
E clers d’estrange terre el païs amenez,
E avez ses prelaz de lur mestier sevrez.
Or volt li reis Henris que vus les asolez.
4900 De ço e d’autres choses granz torz fait li avez. »

981
Dunc respundi li ber, ne s’i volt pas plus taire :
« N’est pas dreiz, fait lur il, ne nel vi ainc retraire,
Ço que li plus halz fist plus bas peüst desfaire ;
Parkes ço que la pape fait, conferme e fait faire
4905 Nel puet plus bas de lui par dreit metre en repaire. »

982
Dunc li unt respundu a voiz li forssené :
« Se vus ne faites ço que li reis a mandé,
Il en avra tut dreit ; mult iert chier comparé. »
(Tut cest conseil aveient furni e aturné
4910 Li trei prelat qui erent de lur mestier sevré.)

983
Mult dulcement idunc lur respundi li ber :
Se l’evesque de Lundres voleit a lui aler
E cil de Salesbire, e voleient jurer
Al dreit de saint’iglise e a la pais ester,
4915 Il en voldra grant fais sur li prendre e porter ;

984
E al conseil le rei s’il se volt apuier,
E al conseil l’evesque de Wircestre, Rogier,
E as autres evesques a qui deit conseillier,
Al honur l’apostolie les voldra bel traitier
4920 E en humilité, e mult li erent chier.

985
Fait li dunc Jocelins : « Quant en ço vus tenez
Que les prelaz le rei asoldre ne volez,
Or vus defent li reis ses burcs e ses citez
E viles e chastals, que mar i enterez.
4925 Faire vostre mestier a Cantorbire alez !

986
– Quant ne puis, fait li sainz, par ma parole aler
Paroses e eglises conseillier e guarder,
Ne puis pas mun mestier faire ne celebrer. »
Par iteles paroles entendi bien li ber
4930 Qu’il deveit par martire hastivement finer.

987
Dunc comanda a Deu, qui des bons est saluz,
Les Lundreis e la cit. Puis s’en est revenuz.
Maint miracle a fait Deus la u fu descenduz,
D’avogles, de contraiz e de surz e de muz,
4935 De leprus cui revient e santez e vertuz.

988
Comandé s’est a Deu, e puis s’en returna.
Enz emmi le chemin, la u il mielz erra,
Es viles e es burcs les enfanz conferma.
Del cheval descendi la u hum les porta ;
4940 En nul liu de servir Deu grief ne li sembla.

989
Deu servi volentiers. N’i estuet alumer
Par tut la u s’estut as enfanz confermer ;
Les chapeles poum qu’i sunt faites, trover.
La fait Deus cius veer, surz oïr, muz parler,
4945 Leprus munder, les morz e revivre e aler.

Translation

954 Soon after his return from over the sea [from exile in France], he [Thomas Becket] determined he would not demure for long in his see without having gone to speak with the king of the land; so he sent before him a message by means of a monk, Richard, head of the church at Dover.

955 The Young King was found at Winchester. There assembled were the barons of the land, deans, archdeacons, parsons and abbots They were there on the counsel of the three bishops who had been severed from communion with the people [excommunicated/suspended, namely the bishops of London and Salisbury, and the archbishop of York], and Geoffrey, the married one [Geoffrey Ridel, archdeacon (archdiabolus) of Canterbury who was later appointed bishop of Ely, but who also had to renounce his marriage before he could take up his post] .

956 There were six churches [bishoprics] in the kingdom which were without a pastor [bishop]. That is why these people, namely the prince, the earls, and many barons, were assembled that day [at Winchester] to select and appoint pastors to these honours. Those whom they selected had to cross over the sea [to the king] without delay.

957 There the parsons must be both elected and given [their posts] on the counsel of the four you've heard me name before. Neither did they wanted to summon the archbishop, nor the several bishops of whom I have no wish to hide, those whom they knew were loyal [to Becket].

958 They did not want to have amongst them the Bishop of Winchester, nor Master Bartholomew of Exeter, nor the gentle and good Roger of Worcester, neither the bishop of Ely, who did not wish to be there. No one ought to extend his right hand to such a consecration.

959 Nowhere can bishops be ordained in thus manner. It is necessary to assemble as many of bishops as possible. If necessary, three bishops can confer the consecration, but the bishop cannot be elevated to his office without the consent of the primate [metropolitan]. Thus stateth the Canonical decree.

960 And if a bishop is to be ordained in the land, it is necessary to summon all the bishops of the kingdom; those who cannot attend this assembly may send messengers with letters. Thus may it be known whether they approve of the consecration.

961 If a bishop or priest has been chosen and raised to his diocese by a prince, he is to be degraded. Anyone who has exercised secular authority and has purchased his divine office let him be wholly deposed and denied communion with the faithful.

962 I cannot see, neither cleric nor lay person, holding to the law of this decree, those who have been thus ordained, for they fear they may lose their offices. In thus manner they submit completely to the secular power, They bend before the wind wherever it comes from hoping for fairer weather.

963 They are not sons of Jesus: they are all degenerate. This year they will not let themselves be crucified for God! They are utterly loathed to lose what they have embraced. They are not born of heaven; their gaze is not in that direction. They are baked from earth and it is towards earth they bow.

964 A bishop should put the world on the straight path: he must be a good men and good cleric, born of a woman in wedlock. A good cutting grafted onto the right rootstock will bear good fruit; and I see that a good cutting grafted onto poor rootstock will bear bad fruit: Cultivate a bad tree, bad will be the quality of its fruit [as ye sow, so shall ye reap].

965 Devils blind princes and kings! Whosoever has had a bad father poor is his heritage. He who has a weak chief will often be scourged. When the son does this to the father, order is overturned. The heavens are under the ground and the stars are no longer visible.

966 When the king appoints a pastor [bishop] , he ought to see to it to find one who can command his body and soul. And depending on the extent to he does this he decides to reverse this then it is as if pure emerald were to be set in lead: no one else can judge him but himself for this act.

967 One must give to Holy Church such a pastor whom we can submit to with honour. Holy Church is the wife of the sovereign Master; if He has taken a bride who is a bad steward, God is dishonoured by such a marriage.

968 The archbishop's messenger of Thomas thus came to Winchester, but found that the chamber was heavily guarded and barred against him. That was because both the clergy and laity feared that he was bearing letters which were not salutations but contained suspensions for some of them.

969 The messenger strongly pointed out saying that he brought no such malevolent mandate: but that the primate much loved the King and his people. Thus he gained access into the Young King's presence, where he bowed to him, and speaking humbly, he said:

970 "Thomas, the archbishop of Canterbury, legate of the Holy See of Rome and primate of the whole empire, greets King Henry, who is lord of England. Sire, you have heard enough said by others, wherefore that is why yet I am writing this letter to you.

971 "So that you may learn from me too, when your father was angry against me, that the good God has, by His grace, made peace between us and bound us in concord, harmony and love. But many have been infuriated by this.

972 And want me to quarrel with you, and have a evil intent, and want to undo and make disappear the love and peace: they say that I want to take away the crown from you! But not so! so help me God, whom we must serve, God who may grant me to be blessed with heavenly joy

973 How many kingdoms I would like you to have besides those which you already have, I would have conquered them for you with my own flesh, and spill a part of my blood, but not if I become accused before God, so may the Holy Trinity help me at the end.

974 So how is it that I seek to do you harm or to dishonour you, whom I behold as and must do [for you] as king and lord, heir and successor to the kingdom, whom I love above all men in faith and with affection except my lord the king, who placed me in this [position of] honour?

975 "However, [I must tell you of] of how much bitterness there is in my heart for not having placed the crown of gold upon your head, according to the privilege of our mother church.Therefore, by my letter, I beg your bounty to let me speak to you about this and other matters."

976 Well did Richard deliver this message. But his advisers counselled the young king not to speak at this time to the archbishop .And master Geoffrey Ridel said to him and swore that the old king had spoken from the heart to him about this:

977 That he did not want his son to talk to this man, who, if he could, would deprive him of the inheritance of his kingdom, and who would take away and remove the crown from his head. The young king then sent to the archbishop two knights: one among that number was Thomas de Tournebu.

[I am of the opinion that the King did not have any right to deny access into the presence of the King in Council by the archbishop of Canterbury, as the archbishop was legally a baron and in order of precedence, the second person in the kingdom. On this occasion when the Young King was discussing who would be candidates to fill the vacant bishops' sees, the archbishop should have been present.]

978 And Joscelin came to him on behalf of the king. He forbade the Archbishop to enter any of the King's refuges: vills, boroughs and castles -woe unto him if he is seen in any of them! The archbishop had already reached London in order to speak to the king; he had alighted at Southwark.

[The two knights were Joscelin of Leuven, younger brother of Adeliza, Queen of Henry I, together with a knight called Thomas of Turnebuke]

979 "What!" said St. Thomas, "do you defy me?" - "Not at all," said Jocelin, "but you are ordered to do this by the King, because you have acted very badly towards him: you want to overthrow the laws and customs of his kingdom, and take away the crown from the Young King,

980 "You pass through his country with armed knights, you bring with you clerics from foreign lands and countries, and you have cut off prelates from their ministries. Henry now wants you to absolve them because in this as in other matters, you did greatly insult him."

[The knights are almost accusing Becket of lèse-majesté.]

981 Then the valiant one could no longer remain silent, and answered, "that is not right," he said to him " I have never seen it before laid down that what has been done by a person of higher rank may be undone by one of lesser rank; because that which has been actually done, and fully confirmed by Pope may not be legitimately undone by one of lesser authority."

982 These madmen replied in one voice.: "If you do not submit to that which the King has commanded, he will exert his right, and you will punished for it dearly!" All this advice had been provided and drawn up by the three prelates who had been cut off from their ministries.

983 Then the noble one replied calmly to them saying that if the bishop of London and of Salisbury wished to come to him and swear to hold to the law of Holy Church and keep the peace, he was ready and willing to take up and bear the heavy responsibility of doing this,

984 And of the King's council, if he was willing, and with the advice of Roger of Worcester and the other bishops whom he had to consult, he would negotiate with humility [on their behalf] with the Apostolic honour [his holiness the Pope], and they would be very dear to him.

985 Joscelin then said, "since you persist in not wanting to absolve the King's prelates, the King has prohibited you access to his boroughs and cities, vills, and castles: woe unto you if you enter them! Go perform your ministry at Canterbury!

986 "How can I advise and monitor the churches and parishes, " said the saint, "if I cannot travel around to my flock? I cannot honourably perform my ministry." Having listened to such words the good man well understood that he must hastily come to his end as a martyr.

987 Bidding à Dieu, which is salvation to the righteous, he then turned back toward London and the City, where he made a halt, Many a miracle was performed by God at the place where he alighted, for the blind, cripples, the deaf, mute and lepers, who received both health and strength.

988 Bidding à Dieu to God he made his return. He set out along the road, thus the best one made his way. He confirmed children in the vills and boroughs, dismounting from his horse wherever they were brought to him. In no way did it seem painful to him to serve God:

989 Thus God was served willingly. There is no need to highlight all the places where he stopped to confirm children: you just have to find the chapels that have been built there. There God gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, makes the dumb to speak, and the lepers are cleansed; the dead are revived to walk again.

990 Thus St. Thomas returned to his see, where he remained in his archbishopric for the rest of his life. Whenever he saw the poor, he took pity, working to serve God night and day. Well he knew he faced martyrdom. He had foretold this.


References

Constitutions of Clarendon: Mission of Richard, prior of Dover to the Young King, Dec 1170