The Battle of the Queens

by Виктория Холт

  ‘Then it was well that it happened so,’ said Joan wryly. ‘And why is Eleanor to be handed over so soon?’

  ‘Because, my dear sister, she was promised to William Marshal. You know the importance of this family. His father helped me to the throne. He and Hubert stood beside me and William would be there now if he had not died.’

  ‘His son was not always so faithful, was he?’

  ‘No. That is why he was promised Eleanor.’

  ‘A reward for treachery.’

  ‘Oh come, my dear sister. You are a princess. You know how we must work for our country. If a marriage is advantageous then it must be made.’

  ‘No doubt ere long you will be making an advantageous marriage.’

  ‘No doubt,’ said Henry.

  ‘But I’ll swear you’ll have more say in whom you’ll take than Eleanor has.’

  ‘Eleanor is only a child.’

  ‘That is my point. Must this marriage take place?’

  ‘It must. William Marshal says the time has come for us to honour the promise.’

  ‘Was he not married before?’

  ‘Yes, to Alice, Baldwin de Bethune’s daughter. She was but a child.’

  ‘He would seem to have a fancy for children.’

  ‘Understand, Joan, that these marriages are made for good reasons.’

  ‘Good reasons being not the affection of the partners but the advantages to accrue to their sovereigns.’

  ‘Do you learn such ideas in Scotland? I am surprised at Alexander.’

  ‘I have a mind of my own. I reason things out.’

  ‘Then be sensible. Eleanor will be well cared for. And she will ensure the loyalty of William Marshal.’

  ‘Why was Eleanor affianced to this man?’

  ‘A very good reason. Marshal was proposing to marry a daughter of Robert de Bruce. It was not good for England that one who has shown himself a friend of France, should put himself in the position of having influence in Scotland.’

  ‘I see. So Eleanor must marry him.’

  ‘Yes. Cheer up, sister. You will not stay with us long. Let us be merry while you do. The signs are good. Our mother married in Lusignan, you in Scotland and Eleanor shortly, with the Marshal.’

  ‘You have still Richard and Isabella to barter with.’

  ‘Their time will come,’ smiled Henry.

  ‘And yours, brother?’

  ‘And mine,’ he repeated. ‘Now I must leave you. State matters call me, sister.’

  Joan looked after him when he had gone and her thoughts went back to Hugh and her fear of him when they had first met, which quickly changed to an emotion she must not think about.

  Chapter IX

  THE ADVENTURES OF WILLIAM LONGSWORD

  Hubert de Burgh was waiting for an audience with the King. He was feeling gratified by the way in which events were moving, but he would not have been the experienced statesman he was if he had not known that there was no occasion for complacency. Since he had achieved such high office there never would be.

  He knew there was whispering against him. His old enemy, Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester, would keep that alive. It was a battle between them and it could only end in the elimination of one of them.

  Hubert felt he had the greater chance of winning because he had the King’s affection. He was not a man of the calibre of William Marshal, first Earl of Pembroke, who had on more than one occasion risked his life to uphold what he felt to be true. The character of the second Earl had yet to be proved, but he had already shown that he could change sides if he thought it the wise thing to do. Marshal the younger would have argued that when he had gone over to the French it was because he had believed that England must be rid of John at any price, and perhaps there had been good sense in such a conclusion but the fact remained that he had deserted the sovereign to whom he had sworn allegiance – something his father would never have done. Little harm had come to him through that disaffection and he was now going to get the King’s sister for his pains.

  Well, Marshal was a name to be reckoned with and the marriage would mean his loyalty was firm. He would be the King’s brother-in-law; and there was a certain charm about William Marshal which had already had its effect on the somewhat impressionable young King.

  So when the marriage had taken place William Marshal would be established in the royal circle. Not that Hubert could complain. His wife Margaret had brought him his aura of royalty; he was the husband of the King of Scotland’s sister and that gave him a kinship with the King of England.

  He had come far since the days when King John had sent him on a mission to Falaise to put out the eyes of Prince Arthur and castrate him. He had been a different man then. Rashly he had acted and out of emotion – carelessly, recklessly risking his life. Yet it was an act which, cynical statesman that he had become, he never regretted. If he had carried out John’s orders, he had said at the time, he would never after have slept peacefully in his bed. The same applied now.

  Hubert knew that the murmurings around him were growing. It was said that although he had been a wise counsellor to the King he had feathered his own nest in doing so. And why not? Did they blame birds for making good nests for their young?

  Two events had recently occurred which had set people’s tongues wagging. William Earl of Arundel had recently died and Hubert had been made guardian of his young heir. The death of Arundel had been shortly followed by that of Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk and his son and heir had been put in Hubert’s charge.

  As these two young men were the heirs to considerable fortunes and were of the highest families in the land, Hubert’s wealth and above all his power was largely increased by his handling of their affairs; moreover he could have a great effect upon their future by leading them in the direction he wanted them to go.

  No wonder it was being said: ‘Hubert de Burgh is in fact the ruler of England.’

  He must be watchful and he would be particularly careful of Peter des Roches. Stephen Langton had brought about a reconciliation between them but it was an uneasy one.

  When he was in the King’s presence he told him at once that the King of France was ignoring his demands for the restoration of Normandy and moreover had brought in the Count of Lusignan and Henry’s mother to work with him.

  Henry was amazed. ‘My own mother!’ he cried. ‘How could she possibly work against me!’

  ‘The King of France would have made special concessions and the Count, I doubt not, though it would be more gainful to work for Louis. And of course there is the irksome matter of your mother’s dowry.’

  ‘Perhaps we should send it,’ suggested Henry.

  ‘My lord, we must not show weakness. There is only one thing we can do. We must prepare for war.’

  Henry frowned. ‘I want above all things to keep the country peaceful.’

  ‘So do all those who wish you well, my lord, but there are times when a display of strength is necessary and unless you are going to allow the French to take everything – God knows there is little left to us – we cannot stand aside. If you do, it will be said that you are another such as your father.’

  ‘Let us prepare for war,’ said Henry firmly.

  * * *

  It was easy to plan but not so easy to carry out. Extra taxes must be raised. Hubert suggested that one fifteenth part of all movable possessions should be demanded from both the clergy and the laity, and as was to be expected this aroused murmuring throughout the land and was responsible for a wave of unpopularity for the King. It was demanded that Henry confirm the charter which his father had been forced to sign at Runnymede. This he did, as he pointed out, of his own motion and good will.

  While these preparations were going on Eleanor was married to William Marshal, who was immediately appointed Justiciar of that turbulent country Ireland which meant that his stay there could be a lengthy one. The married pair left each other happily – William going off on his duties and Eleanor left behind to devote herself to the busin
ess of growing up.

  So there she was back in the nursery with Isabella and being married made no difference to her way of life.

  Joan was delighted for her and said that she had heard that William Marshal was a good man, and by the time he came back from Ireland perhaps Eleanor would be ready to live with him.

  Joan herself returned rather sadly to Scotland and her brother Richard remained at court, for as Hubert had pointed out, he was now getting too old to be ignored.

  As he had reached his sixteenth birthday Henry gave him his knight’s sword and invested him with the Earldom of Cornwall and as the plan was to send him to France to lead the expedition under the care of the old Earl of Salisbury, he was also given the title of Count of Poitou.

  The young Earl, eager to prove himself, set out with great enthusiasm. His co-commander, William Longespée or Longsword as he was more generally known, was Richard’s uncle, for Longsword was a natural son of Henry II by Rosamund Clifford. He had acquired great honours – for Henry II had genuinely loved Rosamund Clifford and had done everything possible for her sons – and Longsword had married the Countess of Salisbury and through this marriage he attained his earldom. His career had not been exactly glorious for he had been a close companion of his half-brother John and, reckoned to be one of his most evil counsellors, he had been involved in many acts of cruelty for which he showed a certain relish. One of the chief of these was the affair of Geoffrey of Norwich, a very able cleric who withdrew from his office when John was excommunicated. John’s retort was to send Salisbury to seize Geoffrey. It was true he did this on John’s command but all said at the time it was one from which any humane man would have shrunk. The unfortunate Geoffrey was put in prison in Bristol where a heavy lead cope was placed upon him and he was left to die in agony.

  Longsword, however, went from strength to strength and he supported John against the Barons, but changed sides when it seemed that Louis of France had come to stay. When John died Louis – whose ally he now was – sent Longsword to Hubert de Burgh to attempt to persuade him to relinquish Dover Castle. Hubert, despising him for his lack of loyalty to his nephew, the young King, berated him soundly: something Longsword was not going to forget. However, as soon as the French had left the country, Longsword immediately joined the King, declaring that he would win forgiveness for his defection by going on a crusade to whichever spot the Legate should see fit to send him.

  He had proved himself to be a good soldier – though a ruthless man capable of great cruelty – and he seemed to Hubert a good choice to accompany the inexperienced young Earl of Cornwall on his first military venture.

  Richard showed the makings of a good commander and his enthusiasm allied to the experience of the old Earl proved a match for Louis whose dreams of conquering Gascony had to be temporarily abandoned because Bordeaux refused to surrender to the French and as a result Gascony was saved for the English and Louis had to think again.

  Leaving Richard behind, Longsword set sail for home. It was now autumn and very rough seas were encountered. There came a time when death seemed inevitable. The vessel was tossed on the heavy seas as though it were made of parchment and when all the goods on board were flung overboard, every man believed that his last moment had come.

  Longsword clinging to the rail was haunted by all the evil deeds of a lifetime and he prayed aloud to the Virgin to save him, reminding her that ever since the day he had been knighted he had never failed to set a light to burn before her altar.

  Then what Longsword believed to be a miracle happened. He and the sailors swore they saw a figure at the masthead. It was a beautiful woman whom they were convinced was the Virgin Mary. She had come at this hour of need, Longsword thought, to thank him for all those lighted candles.

  From that moment the ship, though listing badly and at the mercy of the wind, began to drift. They came to an island and scrambled ashore.

  ‘Saved,’ cried William Longsword, ‘by the Blessed Virgin.’

  * * *

  Hubert told the King that the news was good. They had shown the King of France that they would defend their rights. The days of John were over. A new King was on the throne and – let Louis remember – he had wise men to counsel him.

  ‘What next?’ asked Henry eagerly. ‘We must continue. Everything that my father lost must be regained.’

  ‘A campaign will need careful planning,’ Hubert reminded him. ‘We will wait for the return of William Longsword and hear what he has to tell us of Louis’s defences.’

  ‘Louis’s army cannot have been very good for we have defeated it.’

  ‘One victory does not win a war, my lord,’ warned Hubert. ‘Let us employ a little caution. We will wait for Salisbury’s report.’

  A few days later Henry fell ill and Hubert feared for his life. What now? he asked Stephen Langton. There could be trouble. They must bring Richard back without delay. The country was enjoying only a superficial peace and Peter des Roches would be watching for his opportunity.

  Stephen Langton declared they must employ patience. The King was young; he was not a weakling. They would do everything in their power to bring him back to health and they would not let anyone know how uneasy they were.

  Richard, the new Earl of Cornwall, had certain qualities of leadership which perhaps his brother lacked, but he would be difficult to handle. Fortunately he was there to follow if need be but they would hope and pray that Henry would recover.

  He did and no sooner was he well again than he began to talk of preparing for the campaign for France. If they were going to win back their possessions, Henry wanted the glory. He was not going to let Richard claim it on the strength of one campaign.

  Louis then made a strange decision. Whether he feared the forces which had come against him, or whether he had some premonition, no one knew; but he suddenly decided that he was going to join the Church’s forces against the Albigensians. This meant that he had undertaken what was tantamount to a crusade. It had the effect which perhaps Louis had desired. The Pope sent a command to the English King that he was not to take up arms against the King of France who was now engaged on a holy war.

  Henry was furious, but as Hubert pointed out, he could not go against Rome, for this could result in the dreaded Interdict, and everyone knew what disaster that could bring.

  Henry must therefore bide his time. There would be opportunities in the future.

  Meanwhile nothing had been heard of the Earl of Salisbury except that some time before he had sailed from France.

  When Hubert considered the rich estates of Salisbury and that William Longsword had had a countess who could not be more than thirty-eight years old and who would now be a widow, he decided that it would be a good idea to bring the Salisbury fortune into his family.

  He had a nephew, Reimund, who was looking for a suitable wife. What better, thought Hubert, than for Reimund to marry Ela, the Countess of Salisbury. She had brought rich estates to William Longsword. Why should she not bring them to Hubert’s nephew? The family would know how to take care of them.

  He approached the King cautiously.

  ‘It is a sad matter about Longsword for he must now be reckoned as dead. Poor fellow, he was cruel and his sins must be great, but he was a great soldier and a valiant man.’

  ‘It is true,’ said Henry, ‘but like all bastards he was cursed with the need continually to proclaim his royalty.’

  ‘Well now he has died. He has left a widow.’

  ‘That’s true,’ said Henry, ‘and one who brought him great wealth.’

  ‘And not an old woman by any means. She cannot be more than thirty-eight and still capable of bearing children. She should have a husband.’

  Henry nodded.

  ‘Er … my nephew, Reimund, is looking for a wife. He is a good steady fellow, ever loyal to his King. He would care for the Countess and look after her estates. How would you feel – if he should succeed in winning her – about giving your consent to the match?’


  ‘If she consented I would be willing enough,’ said Henry.

  It was all Hubert needed. He lost no time in summoning his nephew and sending him off to begin his wooing.

  * * *

  If the Virgin Mary had saved the Earl of Salisbury from the sea that marked the end of her help for, although he and some of the survivors from the broken vessel were washed ashore, their refuge happened to be the Island of Ré which belonged to Louis.

  They were, however, able to find shelter in the Abbey of the island and as they were in such a sorry state were not immediately recognised. They had come near to death and were in urgent need of rest and nourishment and this was afforded them.

  But the Earl could not hope to remain unrecognised for any great length of time and in due course one of the monks realised who he was.

  Being a man of religion the monk did not betray him because he knew that the Earl was as yet unfit to make another voyage. So the secret was kept while Salisbury made plans for escape.

  More than three months had elapsed since he left the coast of France so it was logical to believe him to be dead; and when in time Salisbury had managed to procure a boat and returned to England a great shock awaited Hubert.

  The Earl at once discovered what was happening. His wife being wooed, believing herself to be his widow. And her wooer was no other than a nephew of Hubert de Burgh!

  Incensed, the Earl went straight to the King.

  Henry declared himself delighted to see his uncle returned from the dead. ‘For,’ he said, ‘that is what we feared. It is so long since you set sail.’

  ‘It is a shock, my lord, to return and find my wife all but married to another man.’

  ‘My dear Longsword,’ replied Henry, ‘she is not an old woman and because of my nearness to you I wished to see her in good hands.’