Henry II (The Anarchy Book 13)

by Griff Hosker

  The Queen, a thin faced shrew of a woman stepped up to me, “How dare you break the truce! You shall be excommunicated!”

  I put my face close to hers. “Listen to me; William of Ypres and your men are dead!” She paled. She had not heard. “Their ambush failed. It is you who broke the truce. I have men who will swear to that. You are finished in England. Get back to Flanders. I have never killed a woman yet but I could make an exception with you!”

  She put herself between me and her son. “And you would kill a wounded man? That would be murder and you would rot in hell.”

  “That might be worth the price for if your son dies then who shall be king? Besides it looks to me as though he is dying already. Is the priest here for the extreme unction?” Their looks told me I had hit the mark.

  Just then Eustace opened his eyes, “You! You have killed me.”

  “I should have done so years ago! England would be a safer place if I had!”

  He tried to raise himself, “I curse you Warlord! You will never have peace I…” he fell back and both his mother and the priest knelt.

  The priest put his head to his chest and then held a mirror to his mouth. After a few moments, he said, “He is dead. He is in the Lord’s hands now.”

  Queen Matilda pointed an accusing finger at me. “You killed him! You are responsible for his death! You will be cursed!”

  I nodded, “And you live only until I see you again! When the truce is over then you shall die if you remain in England!”

  I turned and strode from the hospital leaving the grieving mother weeping over the corpse of her son. “Where to, lord?”

  “London. I would tell Stephen that his son is dead. If he wishes to avenge him I would it was sooner rather than later. I will not wait for a killer in the night. I will face my enemy like a man and tell him that I do not regret my actions.”

  We broke our journey at Chelmsford. We were in sombre mood. I was aware that I could be riding to my death and so I spoke with my men. “Tomorrow I go to speak with Stephen the Usurper. I absolve all of you from your oaths. You have all done more than any lord has a right to expect. I do not want any more of you to die on my behalf.”

  There was silence and then Dick said, “If we are free from your command, lord, then we can do as we choose?”

  “Of course. Go home. Go back to Stockton.”

  He nodded, “That is excellent news. Well I shall enjoy visiting London. I hear it is a lively city.”

  “But you are freed from your oaths.”

  “Aye lord and that means we go where we wish and not where you order us. We will go to the White Tower with you. I hear it is a fine building. I am keen to see it.”

  I could not dissuade them and so we rode to London the next day. We were spotted well before we reached the city walls and I expected the gates to be barred to us but we were allowed in and a household knight said, “If you come with me, Earl, then the King will speak with you.”

  “I am expected?”

  He nodded, “A messenger from the Queen reached us last night. He has heard the news.”

  Sir Harold’s hand went to his sword. I said, “These men are my escorts. Whatever I have done they are innocent.”

  Sir Gilles said, “But we are the Earl’s oathsworn!”

  Dick laughed, “I think he can tell that from your surcoat. Do not worry Sir Gilles. You will see that pretty wife of yours and your children.”

  When we reached the White Tower, we were admitted. The knight who had escorted us said, “The King will see you alone.”

  Once again, my men looked unhappy. “I told you all before, I am resigned to my fate. I have done what I have done for England, the Empress and Henry. Whatever happens now I die happy. I will not hide from a father’s grief and wrath. I am content. Wait here until…” I put my hand on Dick’s shoulder, “Wait here old friend. You are the leader of these men and if anything should happen to me it has been an honour to ride at your side.”

  “And you lord. If there is treachery then I swear this White Tower will run red with blood.”

  The Great Hall was up some stairs and I followed the knight. He turned as we rounded a bend, “I fought against you, you know, at Lincoln. There were three of us. You slew two of my friends and unhorsed me. I always wondered how you did it. I thought I was a skilful knight. I had won tourneys and yet three of us could not beat you. You were always outnumbered and yet you fought as though you had superiority.”

  “We did for we had right on our side.”

  He laughed, “His majesty said that you have a thick, unbending neck. You have never, in all these years, conceded anything.”

  I shrugged, “I swore an oath and we were in the right. I knew that we would prevail.”

  Stephen was seated alone before a large, roaring fire. On the table was a jug and a goblet. He was drinking from another. He waved a hand, “Leave us, I would speak with the Earl alone.”

  The knight looked pointedly at my sword.

  Stephen laughed, “He is the Warlord and he gave his word that he would keep the peace and uphold the truce. I am safe.” The knight left and closed the door.

  I took off my cloak and draped it over the back of the chair. Pouring myself a glass of wine I sat and faced my old enemy.

  “I have lived too long, Alfraed. My son is dead.”

  “Despite what your wife may have said I did not kill him.”

  “You killed him when you fought him at St. Edmunds. He was a knight, of sorts, and that happens. It was combat and I warned him that you were his bane”

  “He would not have been a good king.”

  “We have been unlucky in our sons, Alfraed. Yours left and I wished that mine had. Perhaps if they had been exchanged at both so that mine went on crusade and your William campaigned in England. How might things have turned out?”

  “My son would have been a good king.” I spoke the truth. Henry would be a good king.

  “It must be in the blood.” He leaned forward and I could smell the wine. He was drunk. “The Queen is a cold-hearted bitch.” He sat back and laughed. “Of course, you know that. She has put a price on your head. Watch out for her. She knows poisons like you and I know swords and mail.”

  “Aye.”

  “So why did you come here? I do not believe it was to gloat. That is not in your nature.”

  “Your son died and I was present. You were his father and I wanted to look you in the eye when I told you of his death.”

  “If you and I had fought on the same side, Alfraed, we could have ruled the world. You have honour and you have skill. You have the ability to take the rough clay of common men and make them knights and warriors who are to be feared throughout Christendom. I have a vision for this land. Together… Fate decreed otherwise eh?”

  “My father believed that our destiny was woven by three witches and they decided what we would become.”

  “And he was a Christian?”

  “He was a Christian who had other beliefs buried deep within himself.”

  Stephen poured himself another goblet of wine. “I am pleased that you have come. In February, I will tell the Church that Henry is to be my heir. When I die, he will inherit my crown.”

  “Not your son, William?”

  “He does not want it and would be almost as bad a king as Eustace.”

  “And if Henry does not wish to wait?”

  “He will not have to wait long.” He tapped his chest. “I am dying, Alfraed. Something eats at me. I cough up blood and my shit has more red than brown these days. I am dying. He will not have to wait long.”

  “Then I am sorry. Warriors such as we should die with a sword in our hands. Perhaps…”

  He shook his head, “The thought has crossed my mind to die in battle with you but God would know that it was a sin and I wish to go to heaven. I have tried to be a fair leader and generous when I could.”

  “You have.” I stood. “Then the peace begins today for without you and I there is no war and
Henry will make a good King.”

  “He will. His father should be proud.”

  I nodded and thought, ‘He is.’ I turned and left. I visited the White Tower once in my life and that day was it. I never returned for England’s destiny was made that day. The war, to all intents and purposes was over. I could have still fought but there would have been no need. My son, Henry, would become King of England. I had succeeded. So long as he remained alive until Stephen died he would be king.

  Epilogue

  December 8th 1154

  King Stephen died ten months after we met in the White Tower on the 27th of October. I only saw him once before then and that was at the truce. Henry arrived in England and my knights and I met him along with many of his Earls. Ranulf, Earl of Chester, was not amongst them. He had been poisoned in spring by William Peverel who now awaited the new king’s judgement.

  Queen Eleanor had come with the King but his mother had stayed in the priory. I had hoped to see Maud again but it was not to be. The coronation was a simple affair for the war had gone on too long and cost too many lives to be a celebration. There were few left from the early days of the war left alive. Dick, Wulfric and I were amongst the only ones. Henry brought his young son William. Eleanor had kept good her promise to bear him sons. Ironically, he had been born on the day that Eustace of Boulogne had died. Wyrd!

  After the coronation and before the feast my knights and I were summoned to St. John’s chapel. Eleanor attended as did the Archbishop Theobald. With a guard on the door I wondered what it meant.

  “You knights, here gathered, have done more to bring me to this crown than any other men in the kingdom and I would honour you. My mother had her Knights of the Empress and you shall be King Henry’s knights.” Queen Eleanor gave each of them a golden seal to wear upon their cloaks. It was in the shape of wolf with a red garnet for an eye. Henry said, “The wolf was your sign, Alfraed, and it shall be the sign for my knights. Each of you will received five hundred gold pieces a year. In return I ask that, when I campaign, you bring your men and they serve with us for I have plans. The Welsh and the Irish have lands that will be ours and when the time is right then Scotland will return to our rule.”

  I could see that all of them were amazed and had no words. I spoke for them. “We thank you, your majesty, but know that what we did was without any thought of reward.”

  “I know and I did not offer you the same title for you are deserved of even more honour. I would make you a Duke! You shall be the Duke of Cleveland!”

  I shook my head. “I seek no further honours from your majesty. If I am confirmed as Earl of Cleveland, then I am happy. I would return to my valley in the north for I have a fine people there and I am their shepherd. I would not have another title. I do not feel I deserve it. But know you that when you go to war I will be there at your side and I will be willing to lay down my life for you. That is my oath and that is my word.”

  He embraced me and held me in silence. My son had become King of England and I am not ashamed to say that tears coursed down my rough cheeks. All the deaths from my father onwards, right up to Wilfred seemed to fill my head. It was over. My work was done. I had done what I intended for one son. The tears were also for the son whom I had lost. Would I ever see him again or would I die a lonely old man in a castle on the Tees?

  I stepped back and I saw that Henry, too, was visibly moved. He forced a smile, “And, Warlord, I have news. A ship came from the Holy Land. A message arrived at La Flèche and Sir Leofric sent it to me.” Eleanor handed him the letter. “It is from your son. He is alive!”

  The End

  The Anarchy is over but not the books about Alfraed and his family. Crusader will be out later in the year and it will chart William’s journey from Normandy to the Holy land and thence…

  You will have to read them to find out. Of course, that assumes that you want to. If not, then I thank you for your company. We have been on a journey and we visit a port. Sometimes people get off and, at others, they travel on to see something new.

  Glossary

  Al-Andalus- Spain

  Aldeneby - Alston (Cumbria)

  Angevin- the people of Anjou, mainly the ruling family

  Arthuret -Longtown in Cumbria (This is the Brythionic name)

  Bachelor knight- an unattached knight

  Banneret- a single knight

  Battle- a formation in war (a modern battalion)

  Booth Castle – Bewcastle north of Hadrian’s Wall

  Butts- targets for archers

  Cadge- the frame upon which hunting birds are carried (by a codger- hence the phrase old codger being the old man who carries the frame)

  Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd- Son of Gruffudd ap Cynan

  Captain- a leader of archers

  Chausses - mail leggings. (They were separate- imagine lady's stockings!)

  Conroi- A group of knights fighting together. The smallest unit of the period

  Demesne- estate

  Destrier- war horse

  Doxy- prostitute

  Fess- a horizontal line in heraldry

  Fissebourne- Fishburn County Durham

  Galloglass- Irish mercenaries

  Gambeson- a padded tunic worn underneath mail. When worn by an archer they came to the waist. It was more of a quilted jacket but I have used the term freely

  Gonfanon- A standard used in medieval times (Also known as a Gonfalon in Italy)

  Gruffudd ap Cynan- King of Gwynedd until 1137

  Hartness- the manor which became Hartlepool

  Hautwesel- Haltwhistle

  Liedeberge- Ledbury

  Lusitania- Portugal

  Mansio- staging houses along Roman Roads

  Maredudd ap Bleddyn- King of Powys

  Martinmas- 11th November

  Mêlée- a medieval fight between knights

  Moravians- the men of Moray

  Mormaer- A Scottish lord and leader

  Mummer- an actor from a medieval tableau

  Musselmen- Muslims

  Nithing- A man without honour (Saxon)

  Nomismata- a gold coin equivalent to an aureus

  Outremer- the kingdoms of the Holy Land

  Owain ap Gruffudd- Son of Gruffudd ap Cynan and King of Gwynedd from 1137

  Palfrey- a riding horse

  Poitevin- the language of Aquitaine

  Pyx- a box containing a holy relic (Shakespeare’s Pax from Henry V)

  Refuge- a safe area for squires and captives (tournaments)

  Sauve qui peut – Every man for himself (French)

  Sergeant-a leader of a company of men at arms

  Serengford- Shellingford Oxfordshire

  Suindune- Swindon

  Surcoat- a tunic worn over mail or armour

  Sumpter- pack horse

  Ventail – a piece of mail which covered the neck and the lower face

  Wulfestun- Wolviston (Durham)

  Maps and Illustrations

  The lands of Henry I

  Map courtesy of Wikipedia

  The lands which Henry II claimed (Orange, brown and yellow)

  Source: File:Angevin empire.svg - https://en.wikipedia.org

  Stockton Castle c 1153

  The Battle of Herbault

  The site

  The Battle

  Historical note

  For those who have read the previous books in the series I have added the new information at the end in the section marked: Duke of Normandy.

  This is a work of fiction. I have used real events as the backdrop for a story about a fictional character. I have tried to be as accurate as I can but I have made minor changes to dates and amalgamated the actions of some characters into one. I make no apologies for this. I am a storyteller.

  The book is set during one of the most turbulent and complicated times in British history. Henry I of England and Normandy’s eldest son William died. The king named his daughter, the Empress Matilda as his heir. When her husband, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, die
d she remarried. Her new husband was Geoffrey of Anjou and she had children by him. (The future Henry II of England and Normandy- The Lion in Winter!)

  I have used the modern spelling of many words in the book. That is because they are well known and I do not wish more confusion than my editor claims I cause normally! Stockton, for example was Stocc tun while Hartburn was Herrteburne. I apologise to purists. I have used the word Saxon many times both for the language and the people. The invasion of the Normans had only taken place some fifty or sixty years before this book was set. Both the language and the people would change and evolve. The Normans tried to impose their language upon the Saxons who already lived there. It did not work and Anglo-Saxon or English as it became known prevailed. Part of this was due to the fact that the Norman ladies used Saxon/English nannies to look after their babies and children. As they spoke to them in their native tongue the young Normans grew up speaking English. Of course many Norman words became part of English- honour, chivalry, ham, lake but it took another century, until after the time of Richard 1st, for one language to be used throughout the land. In my next book I will change the word Saxon for English. By the time of Henry 1st's death the ordinary folk thought of themselves as English.

  A cog was a small trading ship which developed from the Viking knarr. It had high sides and a flat bottom. There was one sail and steering oar on the starboard (steer board) side. By this time some had had small wooden castles built at the bow and stern and these were used to house archers. These ships would be built bigger as the centuries wore on. They had no deck save at the stern where the ship was conned. The holds were covered with canvas when they had goods to transport.

  I have introduced Eleanor of Aquitaine in my books and she is an important figure. She was about 8 in 1129 and her father was Duke William. As she eventually marries Matilda's son I thought I would keep her in my books. The Empress Matilda did leave her husband in 1130. It was not a happy marriage.