Becket Page #2

I have decided to revive

the office of Chancellor of England,

keeper of the Lion's Seal,

and entrust it to our loyal servant

Thomas Becket.

Yes, my little Saxon?

My Lord?

Well, for once

I've taken you by surprise.

My Lord, this is a stupendous honor,

for which I may not be worthy.

I'm inexperienced in these matters

and frivolous by nature.

Rubbish. You know more than

all of us put together.

He's read books, you know. It's amazing.

He's drunk and wenched his way

through London,

but he's thinking all the time,

aren't you, Thomas?

He'll checkmate the lot of you.

Even you, Archbishop.

I never did anything without your advice.

No one knew it.

Now everyone will. That's all.

There.

That's the Great Seal of England.

Don't lose it.

Without the Seal, there's no more

England, and we'll all have to pack up

and go back to Normandy.

May I crave leave

to greet our young and learned friend,

for I noticed him

when he was first made Archdeacon.

Thank you, Archbishop, but don't rely

too much on Becket to play your game.

He's my man. I'd forgotten

you were an Archdeacon, Thomas.

So had I, My Prince.

Now to business.

The law demands that every landowner

send soldiers to give me service

or pay a tax in silver,

is that correct?

I have heard so, My Lord.

We are about to cross the channel

to force Louis of France

to return the Norman towns

he has taken from us.

I have received neither soldiers nor

silver from you, gentlemen, for this war.

But surely one must distinguish

between the individual landowner

- and God's church?

- The law doesn't distinguish.

- But this has never been spoken of before.

- I've never been this poor before.

No. I've made up my mind,

and I'm passing around the plate.

Just drop in the money.

Ooh. My backside's sore.

- Is that all? Count your blessings, sire.

- (belches)

I don't know about you, but I'm starving.

Have them bring us something to eat.

A layman who shirks his duty

and fails to supply his king with arms

should pay the tax.

- Nobody will question that.

- Least of all the clergy.

On the other hand, a priest's duty

is to assist his king with his prayers

for godliness and peace.

He cannot maintain men at arms

without violating the very essence

of that sacred function.

Therefore, he cannot be held

liable for the tax.

Your priests fought well enough

in the days of a conquest

when there was booty to be had.

Sword in fist, rumps in the saddle.

Death to Saxon scum.

It's God's will, it's God's will.

Those violent days are over.

The priest is back in his sanctuary.

- It is peacetime now.

- But not for long.

Pay up. I don't intend to budge.

Come on, Chancellor, say something.

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