by Griff Hosker
He came over to me. His voice was heavy with suspicion. “I am the Earl of Suffolk, Chancellor of England. This seems a strange time to arrive. The French are preparing to invade and we have an army of ten thousand men preparing to repel them and you, Master Strongstaff, arrive from nowhere.”
If he thought to intimidate me then he did not know me. I smiled, “It is pure coincidence my lord. I was serving with the Earl of Derby and Northampton in Galicia when…” I put my hand into my satchel and brought forth the letter. I waved it tantalizingly in front of the Chancellor before handing it to the King. “I believe your majesties should read the letter. I can attest to the veracity of the information it contains for I was the one who obtained it.
The Chancellor held his hand out. “I believe that I should read it.”
I stepped between the Chancellor and the royal couple, “I was charged with delivering the letter to the King and the King alone.” My eyes made it clear that I would brook no interference. He nodded but I saw resentment on his face. Another enemy made!
The King read it and then handed it to the Queen. She studied it as though it was the murder weapon itself. He turned to me, “You serve my cousin.”
“Aye, Majesty, but it was you placed me in his hands.”
“Me?”
“You gave me the manor in Stony Stratford and then gave Northampton to Henry Bolingbroke. I owe service to the Earl and he claimed it.”
His face softened and it was the King Richard of old. “I would you had not left me. You always gave sage advice.”
The Chancellor said, “May I?”
The King nodded and the Queen handed him the letter. “Henry lives then?”
“He is lucky to be alive, my liege. The rondel blade almost killed him. He will barely make it back to England in time for the birth of his child.” I saw a look of pain flash across the Queen’s eyes.
“And you killed his would-be killers?” There was still suspicion in the voice of the Chancellor.
“I did.”
“Then you must have an idea who is behind it then?”
“An idea but an idea only. The King of France is an obvious suspect but whom has he suborned?” De la Pole and de Vere were confederates. I dared not give my suspicions voice in such a public place.
The Chancellor was white with shock. “Assassins? In England?”
The King looked genuinely worried. “You must return to my side Will. I need you.”
“And I will stay as long as I can my liege but I still owe the Earl service and when he summons me…”
“You would reject me for the Earl?”
“No, Majesty, I would ask the Earl to release me from my service.”
The Queen smiled, “That shows honour. You are a true gentleman.”
I did not mention that the Earl had said I was to be knighted. Was I throwing away my chance of a knighthood? I could not think that way. As my men at arms might have said, the bones were cast and whatever numbers I saw would be my fate.
The Chancellor handed the letter back to the King, “Your Majesty, I have to go to Osney Abbey where I will address Parliament. They are due to convene on the eighth of October. I must be there beforehand to attempt to win over some of those who would oppose you.” He looked pointedly at me. “We need to speak.”
The Queen linked my arm, “Come I will show you the Palace. I prefer it to the Tower. This is a warm and friendly old place.”
Once we were outside she whispered, “The King needs you. Do not abandon him.”
That word ‘abandon’ again. I had done no such thing. I smiled. “I will do what I can but the Earl of Oxford does not like me.”
“He fears you.”
I was surprised. He was probably the most powerful man in England and he was afraid of a mere gentleman? “I do not think so.”
She nodded and looked sad, “I am but a woman and have no power but if I were to give the King a child then I know he would fear me too and drive a wedge between us. He tolerates me but he knows that you helped to form the King into the man he is. My husband often speaks of you and the things you taught him. They are the good side of him but when the Earl of Oxford is with him he brings out the worst in my husband or perhaps he is a mage and makes him do the things he does. My husband is a good man!” She buried her head in my shoulder and cried.
I was not certain of the protocol but I put my arm around her. “I know he is a good man for I saw the boy. I saw the man who faced down Wat Tyler. I will do what I can.” Her words disturbed me. Was the Earl of Oxford somehow responsible for the barren nature of the King and Queen’s marriage? I did not know if that was possible but I would not put it past the evil Robert de Vere. Suddenly Henry Bolingbroke’s words made even more sense. The unborn son of the Earl of Derby and Northampton was now important to me as well as the Earl.
When she had regained her composure, she led me to our chambers. There were two rooms. They were not large and they were in the cold north east corner but I did not mind. She pointed down the corridor. “My husband and I sleep in the south range. It is, however, on this floor. I pray that you can keep watch. It will make us both sleep easier.”
“I will, majesty.”
Henry and Peter were taken aback by the presence of the Queen of England. They both bowed so low I thought they would fall over. She smiled. The daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor had inbuilt grace and nobility, “Rise for you are in what is, temporarily, my home. I hope that you two, like your master will protect the King.”
“We will lady! I swear!” I smiled at the earnestness of Henry’s words. They made the Queen giggle. “And it will be pleasant to have such youth at our table. I fear that the Chancellor, whilst he is a good man, is dull beyond words. We would have tales to raise our spirits.”
I was not sure we could do that but I nodded, “We will try, my lady.”
“And I will leave you now. I will send a servant to fetch you when the food is ready. Refresh yourselves after your long journey.”
When she had gone Henry sat on his bed, “That is a Queen? She is so beautiful and yet she spoke to me as though I was her equal.”
“All the great monarchs have that skill. Did you learn anything while you stabled the horses?”
Peter nodded, “Aye lord. The King refuses to go to Parliament. The Chancellor will go but the King will get no money. The King’s uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, is on the side of Parliament. The rumour is that John of Gaunt might have sided with his nephew but he is in Galicia.”
This was a conspiracy and poor Richard was caught in the centre of it. He was clinging on to the crown by his fingertips. What I did know was that Henry Bolingbroke was innocent. He did not want the King dead nor removed from power. Sending me to London with the letter proved that. He wanted the crown but he would have it through a natural process. I had to stay with the King but I needed to let the Earl know why I was doing it. I should have brought some of my men with me.
Poor Henry was very much out of his depth when we ate with the King and Queen. He had been used to eating at feasts but they were local lords. I had come from much more humble origins but I had experienced this more than he had. I could see that the Chancellor was put out when I was seated next to the King. The Queen had Henry at her side and Michael de la Pole had to make do with the Bishop of London for conversation. The King, despite the news I brought and the news from Osney Abbey, was in a good mood. He spoke quietly to me as we were entertained by a troubadour who sang the song of Elise and Abelard.
“I have thought about what you said this afternoon. I may have misjudged Henry Bolingbroke. I thought he sought my crown.” I did not say that he would happily have the crown but would not do anything to take it by force. “Perhaps I have been ill advised. It is just that Parliament seems to forget that I am King. I have the right to revenue! We need the coin to pay for our armies! We fight France!”
“Remember, Majesty, that the country has been ravaged by the plague. People have to work harder
for there are fewer of them to do it. When they see their taxes being taken it makes them question the reason for it.”
“I have tried to be a good king. It is just that I am surrounded by enemies and I know not whom to trust. Even my uncles seem to be against me.”
“You are your father’s son, King Richard. I believe that you are a good King. Your father was never put in the position of King. You cannot compare yourself to him. He did not have to ask Parliament for money. He had lands which provided that coin. Perhaps England will recover her lands.”
He smiled, “I hope so and I feel that we are both safer with you here.” He lowered his voice. “They tried poison blades and then attempted to murder him in battle?” I could tell that the attempted murder worried him.
“They did and they were household knights who did this. He is now protected by some of those who protected you.”
“I should never have dismissed you. It was a mistake and I am sorry but Robert meant well. He comes from a noble family and does not see that someone raised to the rank of a gentleman can have a natural nobility within them. I learned much from you.” He sipped his wine and it was as though a thought came to him. “Perhaps the new Duke of Ireland may find finance from that land and then I will not need Parliament.”
“I have heard it is a poor country.”
“It is but they have to pay their taxes too. It costs money to civilise a land.”
I did not think that the Irish would see it that way but I did not wish to spoil his increasingly good humour. When the troubadour had finished the Queen said, “Tell us, Master William, of the battle you fought against the Castilians. Henry here tells me that they outnumbered you and the Earl of Derby and Northampton many times!”
“They did but we had that which they did not. We had the yeomen of England. Our archers and sergeants, as they did at Crécy, proved to be too good.”
Keeping my part to a minimum I told them the story of the battle. I glanced at the King and saw that he wished he could have such a glorious battle to his name. His greatest victory was over the peasants at Smithfield five years earlier. None of his lords had managed a victory since then. I suspected that was why the French and the Scots were becoming bolder. They sensed weakness.
The food was good and the wine flowed freely. I did not drink as much as the King nor anyone else. I had promised the Queen that I would keep watch and I would. During our talk I had learned that the Captain of the Guard had been appointed by Robert de Vere. I did not like that. Most of the guards, however, had been chosen by the King. When he was in his cups he told me that he tried to choose them as I would have. If I was going to keep watch then I needed to get to know them.
Captain Raymond Mavesyn was waiting to escort the King and Queen to their chamber when they rose. I walked with them. The Captain was Norman and he did not like me. I knew it from his look. “Thank you, Master William, I will escort their majesties to their chamber.”
“As mine is on the same floor I will accompany them.” I smiled, “After all I was the first Captain of the Guard. I do not think I will have forgotten how to protect the King from all enemies; foreign and domestic.”
The King giggled a little drunkenly and said, “Well said Will!”
The Captain had no choice and he and his two men walked behind the three of us. When we reached the door, the King put his arms around me and embraced me. “Thank you for returning!”
“You are welcome, Majesty.”
Anne of Bohemia mouthed, “Thank you!” and led the King within.
The two guards stood on either side of the door. I knew that the Captain wished me to go but I did not oblige. “Do you two stand watch all night?” They made the mistake of looking at the Captain. “Answer me or shall I ask the King to return to the door and explain my position here?”
The Captain screwed up his face and then said. “They will be relieved at dawn. I will bring their relief.”
“What happens when you need to make water?”
“We go and make water!”
“And leave the King with just one sentry? Not good enough. I will return in the middle of the watch. First one and then the other can make water. There will be two men on duty at all times. From now on Captain, have a third man available. You are all paid well and have an easy life here. I know for I enjoyed it. Do I make myself clear?”
The three of them nodded and I left. I knew how to wake myself up. I would be there and I would ensure that the King was safe. I was, temporarily, back on duty and he would not be harmed on my watch.
Chapter 12
I woke after a couple of hours sleep. I managed to strap on my weapons and slip out without disturbing the other two. They had drunk more than I had. The two sentries were on watch when I walked down the dimly lit corridor. It was too dark. I saw that there were a couple of empty sconces. I would have them lit. The two men did not look like warriors. They lounged. One looked too young to have been a soldier while the other was overweight. He might have been a soldier once but that had been long ago. I nodded as I approached. The older one seemed to know me. “I will wait while one makes water.”
“Thank you, sir.” The older one scurried off to the nearest garderobe.
I turned to the other guard, he was the younger one. “What is your name?”
“Tolly, sir.”
“And the other?”
“Alan of Ham.”
“Have you been a soldier?” He hesitated. “The truth. I have good eyes and I know soldiers. You are too young to have been a warrior.”
“My father worked at Windsor. He died of the coughing sickness and I replaced him.”
I could understand why it was done but it did nothing to inspire my confidence. “Have you trained with your weapons?”
“I can use a sword, sir.”
This was not a sentry for the King. This was a night watchman for a merchant. Alan of Ham returned. Tolly hurried down the corridor. “You have been a guard long?”
“All my life sir. I have seen thirty summers. I came here after serving the Earl of Arundel.”
“He let you go?” He said nothing. I remembered the Peasants’ Revolt. “Were you at Smithfield with the Earl?” His head went down and he looked shamefaced. I remembered that some of the Earl’s men had not been willing to draw their swords on their fellows. Some because they agreed with the rebels and others because they feared to fight. I took Alan of Ham to be one of the latter. I said nothing more because he knew that I knew his secret. I had been there with the King.
When Tolly returned I said, “Neither of you are fit to be guards for the King. If I were a killer then you would both be dead as would the King and Queen.”
Alan of Ham began to object, “Sir I…”
In a flash I had the rondel dagger I had taken from Sir Jocelyn and my ballock dagger at the two men’s throats. “And you would both be dead. I would slide your bodies down the wall and enter the chamber.” I sheathed my weapons. Tolly was shaking. I poked Alan of Ham in the gut. “You need to be fitter. Get rid of the excess weight.” I turned to Tolly. “Practise every waking moment. Show me your dagger.”
He shook his head. “I do not have one.”
I drew his sword. I ran my finger down the blade and then showed the young guard my hand. “My finger should be bleeding and it is not. Put an edge on this sword so that you can shave with it. Get a dagger. If a killer comes here then he will be able to get close to you. Your sword may be of little use. Have a dagger and find out the best place to stick it.” I turned to Alan of Ham, “Have you ever put your blade in a man’s flesh?”
“No sir.”
“Then if a killer comes then you will die for you will hesitate and a killer will not.”
Just then the door to the chamber opened and I saw the King. He was smiling, “I should listen to Captain Will for he knows his business and, William, if you are going to instruct my guards I would that you did it during the day. Much as the Queen and I have enjoyed the lesson I d
o need my sleep. There are affairs of state which need my attention on the morrow.”
“Sorry, Majesty.” He slipped back inside.
Alan of Ham said, quietly, “I am not certain I could stick a man, sir.”
“Then this is not the place for you. I will walk to the main doors and then return. Listen for my feet. If you cannot kill then you can at least warn. I will be trying to be silent.” I walked to the stairs and down to the door. Two guards were playing dice. I was behind them before they knew. They leapt to their feet. “Who is captain of the watch?”
One nodded, “Me, sir, Peter of Lussac.”
I saw that he was older than the others. He was the sergeant who had tried to deny me access to the King. “And you fought at Lussac Bridge?” My voice displayed my disbelief.
“I was with the army, sir. I was there when the Blue Company defended Sir John.”
“Why are you called Peter of Lussac? You were not on the bridge with us.”
He hung his head, “When I returned I said I had fought at the bridge with Sir John. I meant only to get free ale but the name stuck and I liked that men thought me a hero.”
“You were not there with the brave men who died!”
“No sir, I was with the baggage train and I left the Green Company soon after.”
“And now you dice while you are supposed to protect the King.”
“I am sorry sir but there is no danger.”
“There is danger and the King’s life is in peril. I will be staying with the King for a short time. If you wish to keep this post then you will serve as though you had fought with me at Lussac Bridge.”
“I will, sir, but this is the first time that any has checked on us.”
“How many other guards are there?”
“Two outside the King’s chamber and two in the kitchen.”
“Where they will be sneaking ale and eating no doubt. Do your job Peter of the Baggage Train and use the edge of your tongue for I fear that the blade of your sword is blunt.”
“Aye sir. I will change I swear.”
I was within six paces of Alan of Ham before he knew I was there. I shook my head, “Use your ears and your nose. Your eyes can be deceived at night. You know where my chamber lies. Wake me if there is danger!”