Текст книги "The Follies of the King"

Автор книги: Jean Plaidy

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Gaveston.

As it was impossible to let the coronation on the appointed day and the King was most anxious that the people should not know that it was postponed because of disagreement with the barons; he had a ready excuse. Robert de Winchelsea, Archbishop of Canterbury, was on the Continent. He had been banished by

Edward the First with whom he had been in continual disagreement, but on his accession, Edward the Second had sent for him to return to England. Alas, the Archbishop’s health made the journey back to England very arduous, and it was therefore plausible Coronation should not take place because of the absence of the Archbishop.

The Queen was aloof; her uncles were suspicious; and the people did not

want the coronation delayed. If the Archbishop of Canterbury was absent, what was wrong with the Bishop of Winchester? They wanted their coronation.

In desperation, the King sent for those barons who had confronted him

before. They must change their minds, he told them.

‘There is only one thing which will make us change our minds,’ Warwick

told him. ‘Your promise to banish Piers Gaveston.’

The King was dismayed but he saw the purpose in their eyes. This could be

disastrous. It could even be the beginning of civil war. Piers had only just been returned to him and now they wanted to send him away again.

But there was purpose in their eyes.

‘The coronation must take place― soon,’ said the King.

They agreed. If not, the people would know that something was very wrong.

‘What can I do?’ cried Edward.

‘Please the Queen and the people,’ he was told, ‘by banishing Gaveston.’

‘You don’t know what you ask!’ cried the King in anguish.

‘What we do know,’ said the implacable Warwick, ‘is what will happen if

you do not.’

These barons! They had too much power. Ever since Magna Carta a king

was not in truth a king. He had to bow to their will or face― disaster.

The King knew he had to promise. After all promises did not necessarily

have to be kept.

–――――――

The coronation was a disaster. The fact that it was postponed had tarnished whole affair in some way, and the people were aware of certain tensions.

Nevertheless they turned out in their thousands and the press in the streets and about the abbey was so great that when one of the knights, Sir John Bakewell, fell from his horse, he was trodden to death before he could be rescued.

Gaveston had insisted on making the arrangements. He had intended that

this coronation should be more splendid than any which had gone before― and he the most splendid figure in it. But his numerous enemies had decided on quite the opposite and on this occasion they proved more effective than he was.

The service was delayed and darkness had descended just after the

consecration of the King and Queen. When they arrived at the banqueting hall by torchlight it was discovered that the meal was not ready in spite of the delay.

The barons were very hungry and they complained bitterly and there were

audible whispers that Gaveston’s departure must not be delayed. When the food did arrive, it was proclaimed to be cold and ill-cooked and disgruntled looks could seen everywhere.

The Queen’s uncle Charles who was close to her said: ‘This is an affront to you and therefore to France. It shall not be forgotten.’

‘You must write your account of this matter― and others― to your father

and we will see what he has to say,’ added Louis.

Isabella had every intention of doing that.

Her coronation had been a disaster and she had not been the centre of

attraction, for all eyes had been on that impossible outrageous creature,

Gaveston. True the looks cast in his direction had been far from friendly but still it had been as he had intended it should from the first: His day.

The Queen was ready to upbraid the King and tell him that she would

complain to her father, but he did not come near her. He must spend as many hours as he could with his beloved Gaveston, particularly now the threat of separation hung over him.

Isabella wrote home to her father: ‘What sort of man have I been married to?

I see little of him. He prefers the couch of his favourite Gaveston to mine.’

Her uncles informed the barons that they were displeased by the treatment

given to the Queen and that they would consider it their duty to explain the situation to her father.

Lancaster replied that the Queen’s uncles could be no more displeased with the state of affairs than the barons were and that before long they intended Gaveston to be banished from the country.

Charles de Valois discussed the matter with his brother Louis and they

wondered whether it was wise to advise the King to send his favourite away.

‘If he does not,’ said Charles, ‘the barons will rise in revolt.’ He smiled slowly. ‘Our brother will not be displeased at that, I’m sure.’

‘And Isabella?’ asked Louis.

‘Never fear, we shall take care of our niece.’

Charles was right. When the brothers returned to France the King was

interested to hear of the English barons’ dissatisfaction with their King.

‘Good,’ he said. ‘We must let them know that if they should decide to rise against him we should not come to his aid.’

‘As your son-in-law, would he not expect it?’ asked Louis.

‘There is no harm in his expecting it. But Edward is not my son. Every King of England knows that France cannot help but watch with interest any

disaffection in his realm; and since we can never be sure when he will seek to take advantage of us, we must be somewhat relieved to know that he has his troubles elsewhere.’

‘Do you propose to take action, my lord?’ asked Louis.

The King smiled slowly. ‘Secret action. It shall be known that if the barons needed help we might be prepared to give them― a little.’

–――――――

Lancaster had received word from the King of France that Philip was

displeased with Edward’s treatment of his daughter and, if Lancaster were to make himself head of that party which demanded action against the King’s

favourite, he would have the support of the King of France.

That decided Lancaster. The party was more powerful than he would have

believed possible. The King had vowed to banish Gaveston. He and they must make him realize it was within their power to force him do so.

Lancaster called together a meeting of the barons.

‘It is clear,’ he announced, ‘that we cannot continue in this way. Gaveston must go. The King of France desires it and no wonder. Gaveston’s presence at court is an insult to the Queen.’

The barons agreed with one exception. This was Hugh le Despenser, Earl of

Winchester, an ambitious man― more than that, an avaricious one. He had

served in Scotland with the King ‘s father and eager to curry favour with the younger Edward, he saw an opportunity here. He had asked for an audience with the King and being admitted found him with Gaveston, both of them rather

gloomy for they knew the barons were standing together against the favorite.

Winchester told them that the barons had called a meeting and intended to

confront the King and command Gaveston’s banishment.

‘I will not let him go!’ cried Edward petulantly.

Gaveston said: ‘They may force you to do so, sweet lord.’

‘I will not be forced. Am I the King, or am I not? God’s teeth, I have not reigned a year yet and they would rule me.’

Winchester said: ‘I fear my lord that they are going to insist and it may be necessary for a while to do as they wish. But need it be for long, and why should you not decide where the Earl of Cornwall should go?’

‘They want to send him to Gascony.’

‘He could go to Ireland, my lord. There he could act as your lieutenant. He could be given a grant of money and live in comfort until you could see fit to recall him. You see if there were trouble in Ireland it would be necessary to consult with him. And then you could meet somewhere half-way. You could

accompany him on his journey until he takes ship. Perhaps this could break the melancholy a little.’

Gaveston’s face had brightened but Edward was still downcast.

‘I do not wish him to go at all,’ he cried peevishly.

‘My heart is torn in pieces,’ added Gaveston, ‘But Winchester is right. We can soften the blow. We can rest assured that they are determined to part us, and I fear they may succeed. But let us make our parting as brief as possible. Let us see if we cannot outwit them in the end.’

Edward could not be comforted. He said he could not bear to be parted from Gaveston even for a night.

Hugh le Despenser watched them together and thought how weak the King

was and how completely Gaveston controlled him but with Gaveston out of the way would the King be looking for new favourites? It was not that Despenser wished to take Gaveston’s place. None could do that. But a weak King could be flattered and worked upon and Hugh le Despenser might be the man to do it.

Gaveston was going.

The barons had decided on it and they had even hinted at civil war if Edward did not obey them. He had to make a choice. If Hugh le Despenser threw in his lot

with the barons, he would have many rivals. Lancaster― though not the most astute of men– would lead them. There was Warwick, Lincoln, Pembroke―

too many strong men.

But if he supported the King, he might become more powerful than any of

them. Even if Gaveston returned, he would be grateful to him, for he was going to speak for him at the council meeting which would be held.

He had made up his mind. Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester had

thrown in his lot with the King and Gaveston.

Edward was still King and would remain King. It was far-sighted to curry

favour with kings if one could keep that favor.

The next day at the meeting of the council, Hugh le Despenser was the only one who spoke against the banishment of Gaveston. The barons rounded on him, hinted that he was a traitor, but he merely laughed.

He was sure he had taken the right action and that he would lose nothing in the long run. He was present when the ultimatum was put to the King. The

barons were threatening civil war if Gaveston did not leave the country.

Edward had no alternative but to submit, but he had expressed his gratitude to Hugh le Despenser for his support.

‘I shall not forget my friends,’ he said, and when shortly afterwards Hugh le Despenser was dismissed from the council, he remembered those words.

–――――――

The King rode with Gaveston to Bristol, seeking to make the journey as long as possible.

He was sick at heart. There was no joy in life for him without his beloved Perrot. Gaveston declared that his own sorrow at the parting was as great if not greater than the King’s.

This was not true of course. In fact Gaveston was somewhat excited at the

prospect of governing Ireland. There he would be treated like a king. He had come with all the trappings of royalty and he intended to be treated as such. It had been a stroke of brilliance to have thought of Ireland. He was determined to succeed there. That would be a blow for his enemies. They thought he was

frivolous but he was by no means so. He frivolled to amuse the King, that was all. The King’s favour was necessary to him. Because of it, he was richest man in England; and he had been careful to get his treasures out of the country because he could never be sure when those barons were going to trump up some charges against him, and who knew they might take it into their heads to

confiscate his goods. So he had made sure his wealth was taken into Gascony where he had some estates and there it awaited him if at any time he had to leave the country in a hurry. Edward was the most generous of men and he had

bestowed on him the funds which the late King had gathered together for a

crusade. Gaveston grimaced. He could make much good use of such treasure.

Better for him to possess it than that it should be frittered away on some useless campaign for killing Saracens and getting nowhere.. When he thought of all that had been wasted in that hopeless endeavor in the past he could feel really angry.

Well now he must say farewell to his sorrowing King and assure him that

very soon he would be back with him.

‘I intend to make such a success of this Irish campaign, sweet lord, that your barons will tear their hair and smite their breasts and like as not grovel on the floor and eat the rushes.’

‘That was what my great grandfather used to do.’

‘They shall do the same, I promise you.’

‘Promise me one thing more important, my dear one. That you will never

forget me and come back as loving as you left.’

‘I give you my word, dear lord.’

Edward stood on the shore and watched the ship sail away. Then he turned

sorrowfully away. ‘I can know no happiness,’ he said, ‘until Perrot comes back to me.’

MURDER ON BLACKLOW HILL

EDWARD was desolate but Isabella was triumphant. She was furious, of

course, to have been set aside for Gaveston and her inclination was to scorn her husband, but she had grown up since her marriage and was not going to act in a manner which might bring no good to herself. Strangely enough she was still physically in love with her husband. When she looked round the court, she

could not find one man who was as handsome in her eyes.

As for Edward, he was pliant, amiable, and anxious to placate her and she

found his melancholy attractive. She thought how gratifying it would be to win him away from Gaveston and when that fellow returned, as he undoubtedly

would, it would give her immense satisfaction to see Edward turn away from him because of his love for his wife. It would be a difficult task to achieve with one of Edward’s proclivities, but the very immensity of it intrigued and inspired her.

There was one other consideration– and this was the chief of all: she

wanted children. She must have a son who would inherit the throne. If she did, then she could guide and rule him; and if Edward so displeased the barons and they deposed him– which, it had already occurred to her, was not an

impossibility– she would be there with her son ready to take the crown. That was looking forward a good many years but she was becoming shrewd and wise.

Edward had humiliated her beyond normal endurance. Very well, why

should she not use him to get what she wanted from life? Determination had taken the place of humiliation and life had become quite amusing and exiting.

–――――――

It was by no means so for Edward. He missed Gaveston desperately.

Sometimes he thought of giving up everything and joining him in Ireland. He could not do that, of course, and secretly he wondered whether Perrot would find him so attractive if he were not King. He must keep his royalty― Perrot set such store by it. He loved to see Perrot’s face light up when some gift was bestowed on him and only kings could provide the sort of gifts which Perrot wanted.

There was trouble in Scotland. Robert the Bruce, who been crowned King

there, was endeavouring to regain the whole of his kingdom and drive out the English. The best thing that had happened to Scotland from Bruce’s point of view was the death of Edward the First, he whom they called the Hammer of the Scots, that Edward who had commanded that his bones he placed in a hammock and carried before his army. Bruce said cynically that he feared the bones of Edward the First more than he feared his son and any army led by him.

Insulting words, but let be, thought Edward. How can I be in Scotland when there is so much to be done here and I am unsure of the fidelity of those about me?

His father-in-law was offering advice. In fact, since the marriage Philip had made it clear that he took a great interest in Edward’s affairs. Philip had the Pope dancing to his tune; he wanted his son-in-law to do the same.

A messenger from the Pope had arrived in England and he told the King that his master was much disturbed by the practices carried out by the Knights

Templars and that he wished the Order to be suppressed in England as it was being in France.

Edward was alarmed. He had always believed there was something holy

about the Templars. He knew that over the centuries they had amassed great wealth but he remembered his father’s saying how magnificent they had been during his crusade and how their presence there had been such a help to the soldiers.

He sent for Walter Reynolds who had been a great comfort to him since the

departure of Gaveston.

Walter was thoughtful when he heard of the Pope’s instruction. ‘You can

depend upon it, this does not come so much from His Holiness as from the King of France,’ was his comment.

‘Philip has started to suppress the Templars. Walter, I fear it will bring me ill luck. I fear if I do this, something awful will happen. I might never see Perrot again.’

‘The King of France has amassed great wealth through the suppression of

the Order, my lord.’

‘I know it well.’

‘And a king never needed money more than you do.’

‘It seems the wrong way to get it.’

‘If it is true that they practise these obscene acts―’ Walter licked his lips and Edward knew that Walter was thinking how he would like to witness some of them.

‘Do you believe it, Walter?’

Walter shrugged his shoulders. ‘It would be a way of replenishing the royal coffers,’ was his comment.

Edward shuddered. ‘I will not do it.’ he said. ‘Frankly, Walter, I do not

believe it. My father-in-law is a ruthless man. He needs money, so he looks round to see who has some. He has alighted on the Templars. I think this will bring him ill luck. The Templars are― or were― men of God.’

‘You will doubtless put it before the council.’

‘This I must do, but somehow, Walter, I fancy they will not wish to do it

either. The Templars have lived peaceably here for many years. I had rather they continued to do so.’

‘The King of France is the most powerful man in Europe, my lord. It is a

blessing that you married his daughter.’ Walter smirked. ‘The lady seems a little more pleased with life of late. I doubt not this state of affairs has reached the French King’s ears.’

‘If he thinks to rule me,’ said Edward somewhat petulantly, ‘I shall defy

him.’

‘Who is the King of France to govern the King of England! He is

determined though that the Templars be suppressed and not only in his own country. It may be that he wishes to ease his conscience by letting others share his guilt― if guilt it is.’

‘If these men are innocent, Walter―’

‘I doubt they are that. It is not the nature of men to be innocent and when an Order amasses great wealth it can become obsessed by that wealth and eager to see it multiply. They say there was much indulgence among these men. They

lived in luxury, they belied their holy laws. Oh yes, that seems very likely, my lord.’

‘But does this deserve torture and death?’

‘The King of France thinks so.’

‘Do you think he has lived such a virtuous life?’

‘That is beside the point if I may say so, lord. Philip is a king; these men proclaim to be holy knights. They have been foolish. They should not have

become so wealthy for where there is wealth there will always be those who covet it and scheme to take possession of it. There is no doubt that Philip is determined on their destruction. He sent for the master, Jacques de Molai, on pretext of wishing to talk to him. Molai came to Paris from Cyprus and was treated well at first to allay his suspicions. Then suddenly Philip swooped on Molai and sixty of his knights of high order. They were taken to noisome

dungeons and there daily these Knights Templars are submitted to hideous

torture.’

Edward covered his face with his hands. ‘I hate to hear of it, Walter. I will not allow it here.’

‘Under this torture many of the knights have confessed to obscene

practices.’

‘What they say under torture does not count.’

‘Indeed it does. The purpose of the torture in to reduce them to such agony that they will do anything to stop it.’

‘I do not want it here, Walter. I do not want it. Why cannot people be merry and gay and laugh and sing together? Why does there have to be this vileness?’

‘Ah, my lord, you are gentle and kind. All kings are not so. Least of all your father-in-law. He acts with demonical fury against the Templars. He wants their money and he wants an excuse for taking it. Doubtless they would be willing to give it to him but that will not suit him. He must ease his conscience. Therefore he must prove to the world and himself that these men deserve to be

dispossessed.. This he does through torture when they confess to the sins he and his friends like Philip de Martigny, Archbishop of Sens, and his minister, Guillaume de Nogaret, have thought up for them.’

‘Perhaps they will refuse to confess,’ said Edward. ‘What then?’

‘Then there will be further torture and that such that such as few can

withstand. I have heard that many have lost the use of their feet after being submitted to a certain form of treatment which the soles of the feet are greased and set in a screen which is placed before a fire. I have heard that the slow burning is one of the most agonizing tortures devised by men. There are many others―’

‘I do not wish to hear of them,’ cried Edward. ‘Walter, I do not wish that the Templars in England shall be arrested. Perhaps they could be warned. Perhaps they could give up some of their wealth― but I do not wish them to be tortured or burned at the stake, I am sure Perrot would agree with me if he were here.’

‘Ah, Perrot!’ sighed Walter. ‘But what good news of him in Ireland!’

Edward brightened. ‘I am so proud of him. Even Mad Dog Warwick had to

admit that the news was good. The way in which he dealt with the rebellion in Munster was magnificent.’

Walter nodded. ‘If he goes on like this, my lord, you might suggest he

comes back.’

‘Do you think they would listen?’

‘Who knows? They might be ready to. Let him go on for a while as he has

begun and even his worst enemies won’t be able to deny that he has made a

good job of Ireland.’

Edward forgot the distress he felt at the treatment of the Templars in

contemplation of that glorious possibility.

But when he sat with his council and expressed his views regarding the

Templars, he was pleased to find that the majority of his ministers agreed with him.

–――――――

Each day there was news of the terrible fate that was befalling the Templars in France and of how many were arrested and taken before the council set up by the Archbishop of Sens. Some would not confess to their alleged sins even

under the most violent torture and were taken to the stakes which were set up all over Paris and burned to death.

Nothing was too revolting to be laid at their door, and their enemies were hard put to it to think up new crimes committed. Many of them were escaping from France and that did not suit Philip.

He wanted the entire Order wiped out. He demanded that other countries

follow his lead; he was most displeased at the attitude of his son-in-law. His greatest advantage came from his puppet the Pope. The Templars must be

destroyed, thundered Clement. Excommunication could well be the wages of

those who ignored the command.

The threat of excommunication could always arouse alarm. Edward was

persuaded by his ministers that although he might defy his father-in-law , he could not defy the Pope. That the Pope was acting on the instructions of the King of France was true, but behind the Pope was the image of the Holy See and the people feared it.

There was a half-hearted attempt in England to suppress the Templars but

this could not be allowed to proceed and in a short time the Pope had sent his inquisitors to deal with the matter. It was the first time that the Inquisition had been set up in England; many determined at that time that it should never come to their shores again and by great good fortune, it never did. It brought with it a change in the attitude of people. Fear had come into the land. There had been persecution before of course; there was cruelty; but the sinister inquisitors shrouded in religious fervour with their instruments of torture and their secret administrations had brought something to the country which had never been

there before.

The Inquisition did not lack victims. Countless arrests were made. The tales of what happened in those sombre chambers of pain were whispered in dark

corners. Insecurity was in the air.

Edward had said that he would have no burnings at the stake and it was

ordained that the Templars should be disbanded, their property confiscated and they could find places where they could settle into civil life.

The Templars could not believe their good fortune for they were well aware of what was happening in France. True, they must find new ways of existence but at least they had been left with their lives.

The Inquisition finally departed from England to the great relief of the

people.

Never, never, they vowed, should it come to these shores again

Meanwhile the horrible tortures persisted in France and the Grand Master

himself suffered. He was in his seventies and to the delight of the King of France could not stand up to torture and was ready to confess anything of which he might be accused, but it was not possible for Philip to consign him to the flames. He must receive his sentence of death from the Pope. That would come in due course. Meanwhile Philip concerned himself with lesser men and revelled in their property which was more than even he had dared hope.

Edward had replenished his exchequer also, which gave him much relief, but was glad he had not the sin of murder on his conscience.

His behavior over the matter of the Templars had brought him a certain

popularity with the people. In fact, they had always been fond of him and had blamed Gaveston for the troubles in the kingdom. When he rode out with the Queen he was cheered, and seeing them together the people thought that the scandalous affair of the king and Gaveston was over now.

If the Queen could give birth to a son, they would be popular indeed.

–――――――

In his heart, Edward did not greatly care. All he wanted was the return of Gaveston and he began to plan for his return.

Perrot was clever. He was doing so well in Ireland that even his greatest

enemy– Warwick perhaps– had to admit that this was so.

As for Edward, he sought to placate those very men who had dismissed

Perrot, and they were not unwilling to be placated. He was after all the King and the King’s friendship must mean a good deal to them all. Edward was realizing more and more that there was only one thing he desired– that was the return of Gaveston, and he was ready to do anything to bring it about.

His friendship with Walter Reynolds had always been a source of irritation to the nobility who deplored the King’s partiality for those of humble birth. He had recently made Walter Bishop of Worcester and had actually attended the consecration by Archbishop Winchelsey at Canterbury. That was a great mark of favour. Walter was well known as a crony of the King and Gaveston; he was standing with Edward now against the barons and was believed to be working for the return of Gaveston. So it was clever of Edward to send him off on a papal mission to the Court of Avignon where he would have to remain for some time. That was not all. There was one man whom Gaveston’s enemies were very eager to see removed from his position near the King. This was Hugh le

Despenser. He had been dismissed from the council at the time of Gaveston’s banishment but he still remained close to the King.

The departure of Walter Reynolds had so pleased the barons that Edward

had another idea which he confided to Hugh.

‘My dear friend,’ he said, ‘you know my regard for you. You must never

think that it has faltered. I am a faithful friend I trust, to those who serve me well.’

‘Your fidelity to the Earl of Cornwall can never have been surpassed,’ said Hugh.

‘Ah Perrot! How I miss him. But he will come back to us, Hugh. I am

determined on it.’

‘I pray so night and day, my lord.’

‘I know you are our good friend, Hugh. That is why you will understand

what I am going to do. I must have Perrot back. I shall die if he does not come to me soon. I have sent Walter to France. Did you see the effect of that? They could not believe it and they took it as a sign that I have reformed my ways and am going to be the sort of King they want me to be.’

‘I have noticed it, my lord. Walter was desolate to go and you to lose him.’

‘He understands, as you must, Hugh. I am going to dismiss you.’

Hugh’s face was blank. He was so eager not to show his emotions.

‘It will seem that you no longer please me as a close friend, but that is

untrue. You must understand that. I shall be seen everywhere with Isabella.

Please understand what this means to me. I must have Perrot back.’

‘I understand well, my lord. You will win the barons and the Queen to your side and then you will say that there is no reason why the Earl of Cornwall should not come back. He has proved himself an able lieutenant and good

servant of the country; and you must have grown out of your infatuation with him for you are dismissing your old friends and becoming a good husband to the Queen.’

‘You have it, Hugh. Do you think it will work?’

Hugh was thoughtful for a while. Then he said: ‘It may well. As for myself, although I shall be desolate to be dismissed, I am ready to do anything in your service.’

The King embraced Hugh.

‘My dear good friend, I shall not forget this.’

–――――――

The barons were as Edward had foreseen, duly impressed by these signs of

reformation but they were not to be entirely deceived.

The King was too extravagant. There were too many Court officials who had

too much power. The laws of justice needed revising and there should be more drastic action against those who debased the coin. In fact the barons drew up a long list of necessary changes.

When these were presented to him Edward said: ‘I would be ready to agree

to these on one condition.’

‘And what condition is this, my lord?’ asked Warwick.

‘That the Earl of Cornwall return to England and his estates be restored to him.’

There were grave faces round the table but he could see that some of them

wavered. They agreed that they would like to discuss the matter if the King would give his permission. All gracious charm and tolerance, the King agreed.