Henry II of England

Henry II (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189), also known as Henry Curtmantle, was King of England from 1154 until his death in 1189. During his reign he controlled England, substantial parts of Wales and Ireland, and much of France (including Normandy, Aquitaine and Anjou), an area that altogether was later called the Angevin Empire, and also held power over Scotland and the Duchy of Brittany.

Quotes

• Laymen ought not to be accused save by dependable and lawful accusers and witnesses in the presence of the bishop, yet so that the archdeacon lose not his right or anything which he ought to have thence. And if there should be those who are deemed culpable, but whom no one wishes or dares to accuse, the sheriff, upon the bishop's request, shall cause twelve lawful men of the neighbourhood or the vill to take oath before the bishop that they will show the truth of the matter according to their conscience.
  • Constitutions of Clarendon, § 6. Presented by King Henry to the bishops at Clarendon in January 1164. Latin text in: William Stubbs, Select Charters, 9th ed. (1913), pp. 163–167. Translation in: A. B. White; W. Notestein, Source Problems in English History (1915), Appendix, II. See also: Derek Wilson, The Plantagenets (2014), pp. 19–22

• And let all the sheriffs make a list of all fugitives who have fled from their counties; and let them do this before the county courts, and they shall bring the names of these men in writing before the justices when first they come to them, in order that they may be sought throughout all England and their chattels seized for the benefit of the king.
  • Assize of Clarendon, § 18. Made by King Henry with the assent of clergy and nobility in 1166. Latin text in: William Stubbs, Select Charters, 9th ed. (1913), pp. 170–173. Translation in: A. B. White; W. Notestein, Source Problems in English History (1915), Appendix, III

Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?

• What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric!
  • Edward Grim, who was present at Thomas Becket's murder and subsequently wrote the Vita S. Thomae ("Life of St. Thomas") in about 1180. Quoted by Frank Barlow, Thomas Becket (University of California Press, 1986) p. 235. See also:

• O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from this turbulent Priest?
  • Robert Dodsley, Chronicle of the Kings of England (1740)
  • Cf. Romans 7:24: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

• [He said] that he was very unfortunate to have maintained so many cowardly and ungrateful men in his court, none of whom would revenge him of the injuries he sustained from one turbulent priest.
  • George Lyttleton, History of the Life of King Henry the Second (1772)

• O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this turbulent priest?
  • The Chronicle of the Kings of England (1821); expanded in footnote: "Shall this fellow, who came to court on a lame horse, with all his estate on a wallet behind him, trample on the King, the royal family, and the whole kingdom. Will none of all these lazy insignificant persons, whom I maintain, deliver me from this turbulent priest?"

Fiction

• Will no one rid me of him? A priest! A priest who jeers at me and does me injury.
  • Jean Anouilh, Becket or The Honor of God (tr. Lucienne Hill, 1960)

• Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?
  • Becket (1964). Screenplay by Edward Anhalt, based on Anouilh’s play. Spoken by Henry II (Richard Burton)

• Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?!
  • The Black Adder (1983), "The Archbishop". Written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Spoken by a fictitious Richard IV (Brian Blessed), quoting his ancestor