 | William Rufus |  |
Scene II.
—Enter St. Calais, conning a parchment, and at intervals writing.St. Calais.
William is Cæsar of our island-world:
This must be emphasized; the Scots expel
His proffered king, and Wales triumphantly
Throws down his barrier-castles. 'Tis the hour
When faith is feeble to enforce a creed.
The king is Emperor, though evidence
Err in defect, and to refuse a Pope
Is his prerogative. [Enter Robert of Meulan and Flambard conversing.]
Anselm shall bow.
Abjure his Urban, or resign the staff
I would receive submissive. [Looking up as he perceives Robert of Meulan and Flambard.]
Think ye not
Our king doth suffer loss of dignity
From the Archbishop's scruple? He remains
Unconsecrated till the pallium
From Rome invest him.
177
We are full of it;
And come to urge you press the just complaint.
Flambard.
The treasury—the famine of the purse
Makes me most secular. A vacant see
Would feed it, if the king were pastoral
In his authority.
Meulan.
Bold prater, peace.
Flambard.
Nay, but my talents are for candlestick,
Not bushel-hiding. I deserve some praise.
Know you how grew your truce with Normandy?
Did I not summon troops,—stout Englishmen,
Each with the money of his maintenance,
Loyal to serve the king beyond the sea,
And at the water's edge dismiss the fools,
Their good bread-money garnered in my hand—
Ten thousand pounds, with which we bribed the French?
You shall give honour to my arguments;
For reason must express necessity
As if she had a choice: it is her art,
And I have learnt it. Money we must have.
Is there not talk of a crusade? May be
We shall buy Normandy, while Robert fights
In Palestine: our king, not covetous,
But of fraternal love and piety
Must pour his crowns down for the holy cause.
This he can do, if Canterbury yield
Her due revènues.
Meulan.
Openly, our aim
Must be devotion to the royal will
In everything. [To St. Calais.]
Now, my lord bishop, come.
You are our spokesman, and must presently
To our rebellious primate read a scroll
From your own lips that clearly shall present
Choice 'twixt submission and stern banishment.
[Exeunt.
| William Rufus | |