Floris, Count of Holland (onder ps. Niels Kobet)
(1976)–Frits Bolkestein–
Auteursrechtelijk beschermd
[pagina 113]
| |
[pagina 115]
| |
Scene I
A room in Floris' castle.
Floris and the Friar.
floris
Goddamn the English King! He takes such pride
In all his magistrates and courts of law
Yet when it suits himself he rats on him
Who was but yesterday his friend.
I must
Confess events have shown that you were right
To warn against entanglements abroad.
And yet: I should have thought that Edward would
Not dare to turn his coat so soon and that
His sense of honour would not let him side
Against the Father of the child that he
Accepted as in trust.
We must now turn
To the alternative that I proposed
To you when we discussed and laid our plans:
The King of France. The enmity between
Philip the Fair and Edward is our chance
To parry and deflect this blow, regain
Initiative and come to grips with Guy.
King Philip has outwitted Edward in
The South and so won Aquitaine, at least
For now: I do not think we've seen the last
Reversal of the tide of fortune for
Those hardened men are one another's match.
King Edward's strategy is clear: he must
Wage battle in the North while Philip's troops
Are busy in the South. That is his aim
| |
[pagina 116]
| |
In making friends with Guy Dampierre. I would
Not be surprised if John of Brabant too,
Along with Luxembourg, perhaps Cologne,
Were drawn into a northern partnership,
United by their lust for English gold
And fear and hatred of the might of France.
This leaves us out. We have no choice but make
A virtue of necessity and turn
To France. I cannot go myself. Affairs
Here in the North are so unstable and
Are pregnant of such germs of chaos and
Decay that I cannot afford to leave
This witches' brew lest it boil over and
Infect the land with pestilential stench.
It's you that must defend our interests.
It's you that now must go to Philip's court
And plead the various advantages
Held out by an alliance of our land
With France: the upper and the nether stone
To grind and pulverise the wealth and pride
Of Flanders and of Guy. I do not think
It will be hard, for Philip's interests
Run parallel to ours. But all the same:
Beware, for Philip is as proud and tough
As any King that has been crowned at Reims.
You'll know his rank and quality at once.
He's taller by a head than other men.
When on a horse his legs are off the ground
By no more than a hand. He stands erect
And seldom speaks. His hair is blond as hay.
His eyes are blue and cold as ice and look
Disdainfully at other men. They say
His piety is great although austere.
His table never carries more than three
Unseasoned dishes and his steward does
Not pour a single wine that has not been
| |
[pagina 117]
| |
Produced within his own domains. This means
The royal palate never tastes the joys
Of burgundy, champagne or claret, which
Are therefore sent abroad to our delight.
He also chased the strumpets from his court.
friar
In this at least you two are not alike.
floris
And why despise the pleasures of the flesh?
Why do as Philip does, who wears, they say,
A hairshirt and commands his priest to whip
And discipline his hot and surging blood?
Those are the manners of fanatics who
Present a greater danger to the rest
Of humankind than all we libertines.
However that may be, it's probable
That you will never see the King but will
Instead negotiate with one of those
Immensely cunning lawyers that transact
The true affairs of France - it may well be
That you are asked to state your terms to Flote,
Who is the Chancelor. If so, you're well
Advised to tread with care.
friar
I'll do my best.
| |
[pagina 118]
| |
Scene II
A room in the palace of the King of France.
King Philip. Pierre Flote, Chancelor of France.
pierre flote
A dispute now divides the magistrates
And clergy of the town of Ghent, because
The clerics there engage in commerce and
The magistrates maintain that they must pay
The taxes that are levied on all trade.
The clerics hold that they are subject to
The canon law but to no wordly tax
And so refuse to pay. The parties have
Agreed to settle in accordance with
Your Majesty's opinion which, I think,
Will be that clerics, in their quality
Of clergy, are indeed exempt from tax
But not as traders and must pay.
The King remains silent.
I fear
That Flanders is unsteady, rich though it
May be. Its Count endeavours to combat
The powerful patricians but now
The grumblings of the guilds have grown into
An undisguised revolt which he in vain
Attempts to stifle and suppress. The cause
Of France is not always supported by
The men that have most influence. They are
Divided in allegiance. In Ghent
The members of each faction even dress
| |
[pagina 119]
| |
In such a way as to make known whom they
Support. Whatever structure we erect
In that disturbed and stubborn land may well
Go down as would a castle made of sand
Before the rising waves.
The King remains silent.
Count Guy Dampierre
Has placed himself outside the feudal law
By his agreement with King Edward to
The marriage of Philippina and
The Prince of Wales. This brass neglect to ask
Your Majesty's permission is in sharp
Contrast to his decision, taken in
More loyal times, to give the girl a name
That would remind him of your Majesty.
The present situation needs, I think,
The surgeon's knife: the archbishop of Reims
Should now be told to excommunicate
The Count of Flanders so that he may taste
The bitter fruits of his disloyalty.
The King remains silent.
Affairs with England have now also reached
A point of no return. The die is cast.
King Edward has, as Duke of Aquitaine,
Denounced his homage to your Majesty.
He did not like the methods he has used
To render Scotland subject to his own
Superior sovereignty, when those same means
Were turned against his interests in France.
I think we should now once again prescribe
The very medicine that he employs
In Flanders, for his royal person and
Conclude a treaty with John Baliol.
That King of Scotland is so greatly irked
| |
[pagina 120]
| |
By Edward's overbearing attitude
And interference with his own affairs
That with a little help he'll fall into
Our lap, a useful stimulus and spur
To prod in Edward's side. And so we meet
His check in Flanders with our mate across
The sea.
The King remains silent.
When Edward gained as ally Guy
Dampierre he lost the Count of Holland who
Has sent a monk as emissary to
Secure your Majesty's support. This monk
May seem a country priest but is no fool
And knows the value of his master's troops.
I think it may be worth our while to win
The Count of Holland for our cause: the sum
Involved is not excessive and it can
Not hinder even if it does not help.
king philip
The only reason of Our Kinghood is
This country France itself. Conversely We
Personify its unity which must
Be saved and strengthened to withstand attack,
So its integrity can pass from Us
To Our successors down the march of time.
The Princes of this earth must execute
The laws that God has made and that unite
In harmony and order all the Peers
Of France of whom there once were six. Three now
Remain, of whom the Duke of Burgundy
Accepts his obligations. Aquitaine
And Flanders must be made to take the yoke.
Who wills a purpose must accept the means.
| |
[pagina 121]
| |
Scene III
A room in the castle of John, Duke of Brabant.
John. The Friar.
friar
My Master Floris does not know that I
Am here. He would no doubt condemn this bold
Initiative. The temper of the times
Has taken such a turn as justifies
My disobedience. I hope my Lord
Will be so gracious as to hear me out.
john
Your master owes me twenty thousand pounds.
friar
Respect for bonds is something that exists
No more and you are not the only one,
My Lord, to suffer from this decadence
Of what was thought, in former times, to be
The mortar of society. The child
That Floris gave King Edward has become
A prisoner: a tool that may be used
At will against its Father's interests.
King Edward in his turn has had to yield
The seisin of six forts to Philip, King
Of France, who violates the very laws
He claims to symbolize, since he is not
Prepared to retrocede those fortresses
Whatever Edward may consent to do.
The words that men exchange have lost their worth.
| |
[pagina 122]
| |
The laws are twisted out of shape to serve
The purposes of those whom chance has lent
The passing use of power. England has
Subdued the proud and freedom-loving land
Of Wales and now intends to do likewise
To Scotland. Philip wants to do the same
To Flanders and to Aquitaine. Those states
Are bent on growth. I wonder to what end.
john
Let Floris pay me twenty thousand pounds!
friar
I think I may be able to convince
My Master that he should redeem the bond.
john
Oh yes?
friar
I know that you have influence
Among the discontented noblemen
That now create such turbulence and spite
In Holland, where my Master has reduced
Their rank and power by the clever use
Of countervailing tendencies.
john
What would
You have me do?
friar
Our lands are desperate
For peace and so I have suggested that
The Count attend a meeting where his men
Will once again be face to face with him
Whose army they destroyed: the Bishop of
Utrecht. I hope he will be able to
| |
[pagina 123]
| |
Conciliate those enemies. Will you
Attempt to pacify the Bishop's ire?
Will you prevail upon the barons to
Restrain their feelings of revenge towards
The Count?
john
Where will this gathering take place?
friar
The Bishop's pride will only let him meet
Count Floris in a palace of his own.
john
It will not be an easy task but I
Can try.
friar
My Lord, I am most grateful for
Your intervention!
The Friar exit.
john
Miserable monk!
| |
[pagina 124]
| |
Scene IV
A room in the palace of the Bishop of Utrecht.
Floris, the Bishop, Amstel and Velzen. The latter two are drunk. Gregorian music is sung in the background.
bishop
Our dearest sons in Christ, We cannot say
How pleased We are to see that you have come
To recognise the errors of your ways
And bow your head in friendship and remorse.
amstel
The only friendship he has ever had
Has been for peasants, foul and greasy louts,
Whom he spurred on to impudence and greed
And whom he even took into our rank.
bishop
The laws of this Our Church indeed lay down
The rightful measure of each state and each
Concern - a measure which the Count did not
Observe when he demanded interest.
velzen
If you had not embezzled money that
Was destined to finance crusades you would
Not have to send a Jew to beg for loans.
You help the Turks, the enemies of Christ!
bishop
We understand and We forgive your spite
Which has resulted from our hazardous
| |
[pagina 125]
| |
Attempt to gain possession of Our Forts.
You know that Floris put Us up to that!
velzen
It seems, my Lord, your promises have lost
What little value they have ever had.
The Duke of Brabant is still waiting for
The money that he put at risk for you!
amstel
And what about my cousin John whom he
Had murdered just because my cousin did
Not let those stinking peasants work his land
Who anyway refused to pay their rent?
velzen
That was his greatest crime, when we were sent
To hold the Bishop's fortresses while he
Arranged for them to be attacked and then
Prevented the arrival of our friends.
amstel
How fortunate we did not find ourselves
Confronted with a fighting man but with
A prelate whose incompetence was just
As great as is his lack of honesty.
bishop
We are a man of peace and better versed
In Holy Writ than war and yet We think
We lost that day because of cunning not
Because We lacked morale or strategy.
amstel
Ridiculous assertion! All you had
Succeeded in assembling was a crew
Of useless layabouts and rogues that lost
Their heads when faced with my courageous troops.
| |
[pagina 126]
| |
velzen
Preposterous pretention! It was I
That gained the victory that day when I
Attacked with fresh reserves, while you had lost
Your horse, your standard, near enough your life.
bishop
Whatever little honour there can be
In vanquishing a Bishop of the Church
Was lost when you maltreated Us and made
Us keep Our armour and Our helmet on.
amstel
Well, you are not the only one to lack
A sense of strategy. Our Lordship missed
A golden opportunity: he could
Have been the King of Scotland, had he dared.
velzen
With you, of course, as general! How can
A man control an army that cannot
Control his niece, a black-haired slut that whines
And pouts and rolls her arse and licks her lips.
amstel
Now listen here, my man! You should not talk
Of whining sluts in rut: you married one!
Your Maud is Holland's greatest whore, who's known
By many men in intimate detail.
floris
I am impressed by all this eloquence
But now that we are friends again perhaps
The Bishop will agree to let us start
The hunt with falcons that he promised us.
bishop
Of course, of course, dear children, go in peace.
| |
[pagina 127]
| |
Scene V
A room in Floris' castle.
The Friar. Enter Roderick.
roderick
Oh Father, Father, help, our Count has been
Imprisoned!
friar
What! What did you say?
roderick
He has
Been taken prisoner by that insane
And Godforsaken bunch of barons that
Is led by Amstel and by Velzen and
That has been prompted by the Bishop of
Utrecht.
friar
My God! Where have they taken him?
roderick
To Amstel's castle, near the Zuyderzee.
friar
Please tell me, calmly but precisely, what
You saw.
roderick
It happened yesterday. It was
A brilliant autumn day. The air was fresh,
| |
[pagina 128]
| |
The sky was clear, the sun was bright, the leaves
Were not yet falling from the trees. The Count
Had risen from that so-called meal of peace
With Amstel, Velzen and the Bishop. He
Appears, on horseback, at the palace gate,
Surrounded by the others and their retinue.
A single servant rides by Floris' side.
I follow at some distance, near enough
To see and hear, as all of us ride down
A path to where the hunt will start. The men
Have drunk a lot; they must have quarreled for
They ride in heavy silence near the Count,
A rancorous expression on their face.
The Count alone sits loosely on his horse.
A smile flits now and then about his mouth
As he looks at the sullen louts around.
No sound is heard except the horses' hooves,
The clanking of the arms, a dog that yelps
As Velzen hits it with his sword, a glum
And surly look appearing in his eyes.
The Count in black, a hooded falcon sits
Upon his wrist, his only weapon is
A sword. And still no word is said until
We meet an old and half-mad woman who
Is standing at the forest edge, a pile
Of wood upon her back. She lifts her arm,
It's like a dry and crooked stick, and points
At Floris: ‘Falconer beware the time
The Falcon leaves your wrist’, she screeches and
I feel a shudder going down my spine.
Count Floris stops his horse, his face is pale,
He asks the witch the meaning of her words.
The woman cackles but does not reply.
‘Annoy some other people’, Amstel says,
‘Or I shall have you burned’. The woman turns
And looks at Amstel from her lowered eyes.
‘The falcon's hood will soon be taken off’
She cries and cackles, disappearing in
| |
[pagina 129]
| |
The wood - and heavy-hearted we go on.
At last we are about to reach the heath.
At last our hunt can start, when suddenly
We find ourselves surrounded by a large
And well-armed company that bears
The colours of that traitor Amstel whom
Count Floris faces quietly. He says:
‘And where do you propose that we should ride?’
In answer Amstel lays his hands upon
The reins of Floris' horse. He bites his words:
‘You'll ride wherever we shall tell you to’.
Now Velzen draws his horse towards the side
Where Floris holds the falcon, grasps the bird
And says: ‘By God, you are our prisoner’.
On hearing this Count Floris reaches for
His sword, but Velzen is too quick: he draws
His own and says: ‘By God, I'll split your skull
Down to your teeth’. He would have done just that,
Had Amstel not restrained his arm. The man
That rode by Floris' side attempts to free
The Count. He is struck down by twenty blows.
Count Floris turns around and shouts at me:
‘Be off’, he cries, ‘and save yourself’. It would
Have been impossible to fight that crowd.
It was with difficulty that I got
Away. I rode throughout the night, and now
I'm here. Oh Father, what to do?
friar
Go raise
The peasantry - go straightaway and tell
The peasants that live in the neighbourhood
Of Amstel's castle that the time has come
At which they must repay the Count for all
His benefits. They must surround the place
Where Floris is now held and see that none
Can leave - I shall go there myself. Now go-
Be off.
Roderick exit.
My God, take pity on us all.
| |
[pagina 130]
| |
Scene VI
A place near Amstel's castle.
Amstel, Velzen, Floris bound. Soldiers.
velzen
I think your plan is wrong. We should have killed
Him on the spot. Why take him all the way
To England, when a single blow would save
Us all this trouble? Don't forget not one
Of all the nobles here would come to his
Support. His nearest friend is now in France.
amstel
Your thinking still is somewhat primitive.
Do not forget that somebody must take
His place and neither you nor I would be
Acceptable as Count of Holland to
The rest of the nobility. In fact,
The only candidate is now the boy
That has been left at Edward's Court, and since
He is too young he will need tutors and
Advisors, which is something that might be
Of interest and profit to such men
As us. But Edward will not let him go
Except if we will yield his father in
Exchange. Besides, the Bishop Antony
Made promises of gold.
floris
You stupid fools!
| |
[pagina 131]
| |
amstel
Shut up, you swine! Let somebody make sure
He doesn't talk again! Or, better yet,
I'll see to that myself.
So there, my man,
Take that into your mouth, a special bit
Of English wool, the wool you want so much
That you are ready to get rid of half
Of what you have (and that includes your son)
If only they agree to sell their wool
Within this land. I told you once before
The day would come I'd stuff it down your throat!
Here, tie it down a bit. He musn't choke:
His death would please me greatly, but not yet.
Enter soldier.
soldier
My Lords, we have been followed by a mass
Of peasants, armed with pikes and staves, that is
Now rapidly approaching us.
velzen
You see,
You idiot, we should have stayed behind
Your castle's walls!
amstel
Get on your horses, quick,
Get out of here and take him to the sea!
soldier
Look, there, another troop of peasants, there!
amstel
It seems the swine have come to help their herd.
I cannot stand their stench, so I am off!
Amstel and soldiers exeunt.
| |
[pagina 132]
| |
velzen
By God, this is the time I've waited for-
You bastard - finally I've got you in
My hands and now you'll get what you deserve-
You doublecrossing scum - take that and that-
stabs Floris twice
That is for Maud, whom you defiled, you swine-
And that and that
stabs Floris twice
that is for Amstel's niece
And for his cousin John-
they're getting near-
I haven't finished yet-
take that and that
stabs Floris twice
That's for betraying us - the Bishop of Utrecht
Sends you his kind regards - and that
stabs Floris a seventh time
is for
Your son - yes - as you've lived so will you die-
Velzen exit.
Enter the Friar, Roderick and peasants.
friar
Oh Floris, Floris, do not leave us yet!
floris
The sword indeed - has never left - my house-
friar
And then to think that it was I who made
Him go to that disastrous meeting in
Utrecht!
Enter John, Duke of Brabant.
Why, Duke of Brabant, it's too late
To ask for twenty thousand pounds, but still,
You should be satisfied, for he himself
Has now become repayment of your bond.
| |
[pagina 133]
| |
john
The King of France has sent his army to the North
And Robert of Artois, his general,
Has met the Flemish on the battlefield.
The Flemish army has been utterly destroyed.
| |
[pagina 135]
| |
Paris October 1974-May 1975 |
|