Knights: good gentlemen but killers in the same...

In "Murder in the Cathedral" by T. S. Elliot, the knights are responsible for the murder of Archbishop  Thomas Becket. It is debated whether or not the knights were acting on orders or if they went out on their own to murder the Archbishop. Elliot paints the scenes so that we must decide for our own whether or we as readers believe they followed orders or decided on their own to kill him. I personally feel the knights went out, on their own to follow what they wanted. To me, there is a sense of irony to this situation. This period of time was the height of the period of chivalry. These knights had to of been upstanding gentlemen in their duties to the people but in this case they go out and kill the Archbishop. It's hard for me to put These two together because the actions go against the way they were supposed to have behaved. It's the contrast to the play that gives it a dark edge. No one seems to be who they appear and the knights make this especially apparent in the play.