by Jean Plaidy
This was usually the preliminary to riots. There was a demand that they should be expelled from the country but a good proportion of their money came to the King, usually through fines or bribes, and if they were no longer in England the exchequer would suffer considerably. To Henry III they had been a source of income and his love of money and the need to satisfy his wife’s insatiable demands meant that he took little action against the Jews.
Edward was much more strongly opposed to them than his father had been. He did not approve of moneylending with high interest rates which was one of the chief methods of making money. He was zealous in his religion and had a keen dislike of all those who were not Christian. He himself was constantly in financial difficulties and had been forced to borrow heavily and to be obliged to pay back, though the amount of interest demanded, more than he had originally borrowed, riled him.
The laws against the Jews had been growing more and more severe during his reign – so much so that quite a number of them had been forced out of business. They were not a people to admit defeat and soon found other means of making money. One of these was known as clipping the coin, which meant that gold and silver were clipped so finely from pieces of money that it was rarely noticeable, but the metal taken from the coins could be sold. This was a crime punishable by hanging, and as the confiscation of goods went with it it was again helpful to the exchequer.
Edward was deeply concerned with the Jewish problem. He knew the people would be pleased to see them expelled from the land. The fines imposed on them would be missed. But he knew that there must be continual trouble between them and the Christian citizens, and at this time the rumours of Jewish atrocities were growing. He did not want trouble in the capital. He was seriously thinking of expelling the Jews.
When he went to see his mother at Amesbury she received him with great pleasure. He was shocked to see that her health was failing, even though mentally she was as energetic as ever and wanted to hear all that had befallen him during his sojourn abroad. She was delighted with Joanna’s marriage.
‘She will keep Gloucester in order,’ she said with a chuckle. Although the eldest, Princess Eleanor, was her favourite she greatly admired the lively Joanna.
‘And now it is Margaret’s turn,’ she went on. ‘A pity she is so young. I heard Brabant is something of a rake.’
‘Doubtless he will improve on marriage.’
‘It is to be hoped so.’
The Queen Mother was wistful. She hated to be shut away from events. She longed for the return of those days when she had been the centre of her family and she would never get over the loss of her doting husband. Edward was a good son but he would go his own way. She wanted to be young again, depended on.
‘I have heard rumours that the Jews are up to their tricks again,’ she said.
‘Rumours … here in Amesbury?’
‘I have visitors and they know that if they will please me they must bring me news of your kingdom. Clipping the coin … crucifying Christian boys.’
‘The first yes – the second … why, Mother, you know there is no truth in that.’
The Queen Mother’s eyes blazed. She was thinking of how she and Henry had borrowed money from the Jewish usurers and the interest they had demanded. She had always maintained that they should have given freely of their wealth to the King and Queen for the privilege of living in this country. She had always hated them.
‘You should send them out of the country,’ she said firmly.
‘Send them away! There are so many of them.’
‘All the more reason why they should go.’
‘It is a matter which needs a great deal of consideration.’
‘Meanwhile they are the reason for riots in the cities … they are reducing the value of the coinage …’
He held up his hand. ‘I know this,’ he said. ‘In fact it is in my mind to be rid of them. I am being coerced from all sides … It will bring a certain loss to the exchequer.’
‘You will prosper, Edward. I know it. Rid yourself of these people, God will reward you.’
She went on talking in the manner he knew so well. If it was something he had decided against he would listen politely, his mind made up. But with regard to the Jews he was prepared to pay attention to her tirade against them, which showed that he was ready to accept her views.
Only when he spoke to her of his intentions regarding young Edward could he get her off the subject.
‘Joanna is married; as Margaret will soon be. It is imperative that Edward is betrothed. I want the Maid of Norway brought over. I want her brought up in my kingdom and as soon as possible the marriage will be celebrated.’
The Queen Mother nodded vigorously. She had seen her son bring Wales under the English rule. Now it was the turn of Scotland, and if it could be done by a marriage alliance how much better than years of dreary fighting. Young Edward and the little Maid of Norway must marry.
‘You must bring her over without delay,’ said the Queen Mother emphatically.
But before Edward left she talked more of the need to expel the Jews.
On a hot day at the beginning of July the Princess Margaret was married to John of Brabant.
The bride sparkled in her jewel-studded chaplet and belt which the King had ordered his goldsmith to make for her and which were decorated with leopards in sapphires. The slight young girl weighed down by her heavy dress of samite, jewel encrusted, stood beside her rather plump and florid bridegroom who, although he was but some five years older than she was, already showed signs of dissipation.
Eleanor was her sister’s chief attendant and Eleanor’s gown was of equal magnificence, for fifty-three beautiful silver ornamental buttons had been sewn onto it and she was a dazzling sight.
The people declared that they had never seen such magnificence, for the King and his attendant knights were in full armour and the Earl of Gloucester and his newly wedded wife were present, and Joanna was determined to shine at least as brightly as the bride and her groom, and this they succeeded in doing for in their train were more than a hundred glittering knights.
Six-year-old Edward was there with a train of eighty knights, and people asked each other when they would be summoned to see his betrothal to the little Maid of Norway.
Margaret’s heavy dress and all the jewels she must carry tired her and she was a little afraid of the handsome bridegroom who looked so elegant in his surtunic with sleeves which flowed to the elbows and his mantle of vair.
The Queen was uneasy. She had not been well during the end of their stay in France and had promised herself that when she was home in England her health would return. She had felt momentarily better to be reunited with her children but her weariness had come back bringing vague pains and she was conscious of certain bodily discomfort.
She was afraid she might not be able to keep up with the energetic Edward but firmly resolved to say nothing to him about her ailments. Fortunately with all this excitement of the weddings even her closest family failed to notice that there was anything wrong with her.
Now she was uneasy about Margaret. Joanna could take care of herself and the eldest, Eleanor, would be of an age when she could accept with serenity a husband – if they ever found one for her. But Margaret was such a child.
She had prevailed on Edward not to send her away just yet, and being always indulgent where his daughters were concerned he had agreed. So it had been arranged that the married pair should remain a while in England where they might become accustomed to each other before Margaret had to leave her home.
So after the celebrations were over they would accompany the bridegroom’s father, the old Duke of Brabant, to Dover where they would say farewell to him before he left for his dominions.
That seemed as satisfactory an arrangement as was possible.
Meanwhile they could give themselves up to the banquets and entertainments which they had devised for the marriage of their daughter, and she could only pray that the rumours she ha
d heard concerning the bridegroom’s profligate life were unfounded.
Two important events followed on Margaret’s marriage.
The first concerned the Jews. Edward had discussed the matter with his barons headed by Gloucester. He had already expelled the Jews from his Continental possessions to the great joy of the people there. He now proposed to do the same in England. The general opinion was that this would be a good move. The unpopularity of the Jews was so great that it seemed Edward could only win his subjects’ approval by dismissing them. The Templars were now financially involved in the affairs of the country, and during the past years many Italian bankers had settled in London where they were taking over the business which had once been entirely in the hands of the Jews.
‘We do not need the Jews now,’ said Gloucester. ‘And the people will more easily accept the Italians. They are Christians. The Jews crucified Christ, that is something for which they will never be forgiven.’
The Queen had pointed out that Christ himself had spoken often of a Christian duty to forgive one’s enemies, and Edward explained gently to her that the expulsion of the Jews was political as well as religious. ‘A matter of state, my love,’ he said; and she who had always accepted his ruling must not attempt to disagree; in any case she felt too weak to contest anything at that time.
His ministers were in favour of the expulsion. The Jews had made fortunes from England; let them go now, but leave behind a proportion of that which they had gained as some said through exploiting the people of England. The King had not wished to be harsh. It was true, he abhorred their lack of Christian faith, but they had worked hard and he would like to be as fair as possible.
He would take a fifteenth part of their goods; they might take with them a part of their movables and enough money to defray the expenses of their journey. Their houses and land would be the property of the King. They should be given time to arrange their move but all must be out of the country before the feast of All Saints.
The persecuted people proved themselves astute to the last. Having been told they could take what they could carry they procured a great ship which was brought up the Thames and into this they were able to load much treasure.
But the master of the ship was determined that they should not, as he said, cheat the King and the country. He sailed off, as arranged, but as he reached the mouth of the river where it opened into the sea he ran the ship onto a sandbank. There he invited the Jews to walk with him to exercise themselves before they left England. This they did, and when he saw that the tide was coming in he embarked, but told the Jews they had a little time left and he would let them know when they must come aboard.
When the Jews realised how the tide was rising they ran to the ship’s side, but the captain still would not allow them to come on the ship.
‘We shall be drowned,’ they cried.
‘Nay,’ said the captain. ‘Did not your forebears pass through the Red Sea? Call to Moses to come to your aid that the same may be done for you as was done for your forefathers.’
The Jews cried out in supplication, but the tide rose and the ship was able to drift off the sandbank and into the river. It was said that that spot was haunted and that at times it was possible to hear the cries of the drowning Jews.
By the appointed time sixteen thousand Jews had left the country.
Chapter IX
THE QUEEN’S CROSSES
Having married two of his daughters and rid the country of the Jews, Edward’s eyes were on Scotland. His hopes were high. If he could marry young Edward to the Scottish Queen, now in Norway, he would have achieved a great deal, for he saw an era of peace throughout the island and peace meant prosperity. He could then turn his eyes to the Continent, protect those possessions which still remained part of the crown and, who knew, he might regain some of those which his foolish father and wicked grandfather had lost? The augury for the future was promising.
It was fortuitous the way events had fallen into shape to suit him.
Margaret, the Maid of Norway, was but six years old – a few months older than Prince Edward. It was a pity they were so young, but if he could get her to England and bring her up in his Court and the marriage was performed at the earliest possible time, this could work out very well.
There was a good Regency in Scotland which had been set up after the death of Alexander – the grandfather of the little Maid. The child’s mother, Margaret, had died giving birth to her; and her father, Eric of Norway, was at that time still in his teens. He had been very willing to promise to send the child to Edward so, with his usual foresight and energy, Edward procured a dispensation for the two cousins to marry, and had commenced his negotiations with Scotland and Norway. In due course the Treaty of Salisbury had been arranged though Edward had had to concede that there should be no contract of marriage between the two children until the Scots had given their consent. Edward foresaw no difficulties about this once he had the child in his hands.
More recently he had had a meeting with the Scottish nobles and they had agreed that in the event of a marriage between the two young people Scotland should remain separate unto itself and divided from England. This was agreeable to Edward. He foresaw the future when young Edward and the Maid from Norway would have a son who would unite the two kingdoms. He was looking far ahead.
The important matter now was to get the Maid of Norway into his possession. That little six-year-old was the pivot on which the entire project turned.
He would send for her. Thank God Eric was willing to let her go, although he warned Edward that his little daughter was of a delicate constitution and they had had difficulty in rearing her. Eric thought that the sea journey might prove tiresome for her, and he thought that perhaps it should be delayed until the spring.
This was impossible. Edward would have no delay. The Maid must be at his Court before All Hallowtide. He was sure that if she were not some of those restive barons of Scotland might attempt to prevent her coming to England. The Maid was the undoubted Queen of Scotland, but if she were not there there would be several other claimants to the throne. He must have her with him as soon as possible.
He himself went to Yarmouth to supervise the fitting out of the vessel which was to go to Bergen, collect the precious child and bring her to England.
He took the Queen with him for he felt that a woman’s advice would be useful for the comfort of the child. A cabin had been fitted out for her, which was pretty and would give pleasure to a six-year-old.
‘What would she like to eat, think you?’ asked Edward.
‘Sugar and raisins,’ said the Queen. ‘Edward is very fond of them and she is his age. Ginger too was a favourite with the children … and walnuts … oh yes they did like walnuts. And children love gingerbread, especially if it is made into fancy shapes.’
So the King ordered: ‘Let these things be added to the usual stores.’
He himself supervised their being taken aboard and side by side with the Queen he watched the vessel sail off on its route to Bergen.
‘When that child is in our hands,’ he told the Queen jubilantly, ‘I see a new era of peace beginning for England.’
‘Do you think all those who have a claim to the Scottish throne will see that?’
‘Baliol? Bruce? They must respect the true succession. Our little Maid is in the direct line of succession from Alexander and William the Lion. When the child arrives we will meet her with worthy ceremony and assurances of our concern for her welfare. She shall have a welcome place in our nurseries. She shall learn her lessons side by side with Edward.’
‘I am so glad,’ replied the Queen, ‘then when they marry they will not be strangers. I hope they will be as happy as you and I.’
‘That is asking a good deal,’ replied the King; and he noticed then that she seemed paler than usual and perhaps a little thin.
‘I think our travels were too much for you,’ he said solicitously. ‘We will now have a quieter time with the family. Our dear d
aughter Eleanor is such a comfort, and we still have Margaret with us and Joanna is not far away at Clerkenwell.’
‘What a joy it is to be surrounded by one’s family!’
They rode back to London, the King in good spirits and to see him so made the Queen happy for she believed that if there was peace between England and Scotland and the perpetual worry as to what was happening on the borders could be removed, now that Wales was under control, they could stay in Westminster and Windsor and be together at home. This put her in such a state of pleasure that the colour glowed again in her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with happiness so the fact that she had lost some weight was not apparent, and the King’s mind was at rest concerning her health.
What pleasure it was to rest at Clerkenwell and to see their dear Joanna do the honours of châtelaine and hostess. She glowed with pride in her new state. She was already pregnant and had assumed a new dignity. She could subdue her doting husband with a look and Edward was amused to see proud Gilbert reduced to the state of besotted lover by this imperious and lovely young daughter of his.
Clerkenwell, where the river Holeburne wound its way through green meadows and wooded hills, was a delightful spot; and the fact that the city could be seen in the distance but added to its charm.