The man who scoffs at monks, and uses men
As players, would poor chessmen for his use
To play with, thou wilt see this man
Shorn of his greatness, blasted like some trunk
Out in a wasteland, suing with suppliant knee,
And begging his royalty from the carpenter’s son.
Enter a Page, who kneels.
Page. Your Holiness, Ambassadors wait without with letters from Normandy. (Presents letters.)
Hild. (Reads.) To his Holiness, the Lord Pope of Rome, William of Normandy sendeth greeting; Holy Father thine obedient son and ally, William, Prince of the Normans, who is about invading England for the purpose of putting the outlawed Saxon under the power of Holy Church, would humbly beseech thy immediate public blessing on his undertaking. This land be sworn by Harold in fief to William, on the bones of holy saints.
[Signed] William.