<P> "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?" is a line from the 1964 film Becket, spoken by actor Peter O'Toole as Henry II of England, expressing his frustration regarding his conflicts with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170 . While this was not a direct order, upon hearing this comment from their sovereign, four knights--Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton--traveled from Normandy to Canterbury and killed Becket . </P> <P> The Becket screenwriter likely drew inspiration from a common earlier variation of the phrase that uses "turbulent" in place of "meddlesome". These two and other variations are now used to express the idea that a ruler's wish can be interpreted as a command by his or her subordinates . </P> <P> The phrase attributed to Henry II, most commonly expressed as "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?", comes from oral tradition and there are multiple versions of the exact words he used . A more elaborate version is "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?" In all versions the basic scenario remains the same: Henry made an outburst against Becket which his courtiers interpreted as an order to kill the priest . Henry later took responsibility for Becket's death but claimed he had never intended it . </P>

Will no one rid me of the meddlesome priest