Ruth and Samuel burst into the Great Hall. As I discovered neither of them just entered a room, they hurtled in like an autumn gale. One of Rebekah’s women raced in after them, “Sorry my lord, my lady, they would not listen to me.”
I patted my knees, “Come the two of you and sit here. You should obey the ladies. They know what is best for you.”
“We could not wait. Are we going to have an adventure today?”
I laughed, “Every day is an adventure. You just need to look upon it that way. When you have eaten your breakfast get dressed in something warm and we will visit Alf the Smith.”
Ruth asked, “Is that an adventure?”
“When you see him at work then you will think so! He takes raw metal and makes it into the most wonderful things. He is like a magician!”
The eight nights leading up to Christmas were wonderful. They were filled with the children and my family. I did not spare one thought for Henry or King Malcolm. The Bishop of Durham was as far from my mind as it was possible to get. I knew that we would have to deal with him but that was for the future. The now was pure pleasure. I took the time to walk the streets of the once humble town we had built. It was now almost unrecognisable. What had been simple huts were now solid and substantial houses. The most substantial belonged to Alf and Ethelred, the richest men in the town but there were others which showed the commerce which flowed through the town. There was even a pair of brothers who made and sold crosses and other religious goods. That showed the greatest difference. When my father and I had first come people had no coin and barely eked out a living. Now they had enough to spare so that they could buy crosses to adorn their necks. The two brothers, older men, Abelard and Geoffrey, tried to sell me a silver cross. It looked to be the most expensive item they had to sell. I had bought presents for the family in York when we had passed through. I did not buy.
Christmas, too, proved to be joyous beyond words. Since Adela’s death the castle had been empty. We had had brief highlights such as when the families of my knights stayed but this was as it had been in the old days. My knights spent Christmas day with their families but they all came to spend some time with us during the ten days of feasting in the shortest of days. As a bachelor knight Wulfric was there the whole ten days. Samuel was delighted. The grizzled old warrior played all sorts of silly games with my grandchildren. He went on all fours to pretend to be a bear. He played hide and seek. He even sat them on his knee and told them the stories his mother had told him when he had been a child.
Ten days after the feast of St. Stephen, William and I left, with an escort of ten men at arms and ten archers. I had sent Sir Gilles to warn the Bishop of our visit. I told him that we intended to stay the night. As we headed up the Durham Road William and I began to plan our strategy. One of us would speak while the other would watch. The Bishop surrounded himself with political creatures. They would bear close scrutiny. We agreed that it would be William who would speak. He would be around more than I would. It made sense. I also had more experience of watching for deceit. We had chosen the beast archers and men at arms. That was not because we feared attack. Since my son’s foray north there had been peace. It was more as a statement to the Bishop that we had warriors who were the best. The twenty of them were also clever and they would pick up any news and gossip which might tell us what the Bishop was up to.
The castle looked magical. We had had no snow in the valley but Durham had a blanket all around. It was further north and closer to the hills. It was a daunting castle. Set on a high rock and with a river curving around it would cost many men to reduce it. I could see why the Scots had never attempted to take it. We were admitted and due deference was shown. Our men were taken to the warrior hall and our squires took our horses to the stables. While we waited for them I scanned the walls. The Bishop did not employ as many men on his walls as we did. I had heard that he liked to hoard money. In my view that was short sighted. However, it was useful information. If I had to take the castle then I might be able to take it by stealth rather than force.
Our squires soon arrived. The Bishop had ensured that there were grooms to care for our horses. I was riding Storm Bringer for Warrior had been covering Skuld and Aiden was hopeful that she was with foal. The black horse with the white blaze had made a grand entrance in the sea of white.
A knight greeted us, “I am Sir Ralph D’Aubigny. I will take you to the Bishop.”
William said, “Did I not meet one of your relatives in the Holy Land?”
He nodded and smiled, “My cousin. It is good of you to remember, earl.”
“And what of you? Did you go on Crusade?”
“I did but I was laid low in Acre by some vile disease. I have only recently returned. I spent some time with Raymond de Puy Provence, the master of the Hospitallers. He spoke often of you.”
“William smiled, “How is the old knight?”
“The same. He still strives to do good in a world where men are driven by greed.”
I nodded, “And now what is your position?”
“The Master gave me a letter of introduction to the Bishop of Durham. I hoped for a manor. I believe there is one vacant at Fissebourne. I would like to be given the manor.” He shook his head. “I am not hopeful. The Bishop cannot ignore the letter of introduction but without connections it appears that I am of no use to him.” He smiled, “It is why I am used as a doorman!”
“And if you are not given Fissebourne?”
“Then I would present myself to King Henry.”
“What of your family’s lands?”
“I am afraid my family chose the side of Stephen. We lost all. I am the last of the line and a penniless knight. I suppose I could be a sword for hire. My squire and I are quite handy with our weapons. As you know, lord, if you are not then the Holy Land will take your life.” He gave us a wan smile, “We must go. The Bishop does not like to be kept waiting.”
I shook my head, “He can wait for an Earl Marshal!”
The Bishop had decided to impress us. He had his chair, one might call it a throne, on a raised dais. As we entered my son said, quietly, “It seems he has been lessoned by King Malcolm’s advisers. He wishes to look down on us.”
I gave a slight nod, “Your Grace.”
He frowned. I had not shown obeisance. William had told me, on the way north, that he had annoyed the Bishop by a similar action. “I pray you take a seat. Sir Ralph, we are done with you. You can wait without.” The young knight had been dismissed like a servant. The Bishop smiled and it was a false smile, “We will eat and drink but first I have some questions, Earl William, about your campaign in the north.”
This suited us for William would be able to talk and I could watch. The priests who flanked him looked not like the priests I knew. These were well fed. They had jewelled fingers. They looked like men who knew how to accumulate coin. There were also two knights there. These were not the like Sir Ralph. These were grizzled warriors. Their surcoats and mail were unfamiliar. The pommels on their swords told me that they were neither English nor Norman. I did not recognise either and that caused me concern for I had fought alongside most knights. The others I had fought against. Where had they come from?
The Bishop asked, “Your campaign was successful?”
“Yes, your grace, we have recovered that which King Stephen gave away and the Countess of Chester has also recovered Cumbria. The King will soon have his taxes eh?”
The priests looked at each other and there was worry on their faces. The Bishop spread his hands, “We have much reconstruction, Earl William. Castles must be strengthened.” He looked at me and I nodded. “And that brings me to Norham. I realise it is an oversight but it has come to my attention that you gave the castle to one of your knights, Sir John of Elton.”
William smiled, “I did. We need the castle as a bastion against the Scots. The Tweed is the natural boundary between our kingdoms.”
“But it belongs to the Palatinate.”
“T
hen, perhaps, you should have recovered it, your grace. It was my men who took it.”
“You had my knights with you.”
“And…”
“And…” he waved his hands before his face. “I am not happy with this situation. I shall speak with the King!”
I had been watching the two knights and their eyes had never left William. I spoke, “I am Earl Marshal and King Henry has given me certain messages to pass on to you. I will do so in private but for the purpose of this meeting regard me as the King’s voice.” I smiled.
The Bishop flustered and fussed about the castle for some time. William answered all of his questions well. Eventually the Bishop realised he had been outwitted and he slumped in his seat. A young servant came in and whispered in the Bishop’s ear. He stood, “The food is ready. Let us eat. I am weary from this debate.”
I noticed as we sat to eat that they had placed the two knights well out of earshot of William and myself. I wondered at that. Sir Ralph was seated next to William. The food was, as I had expected, excellent. The priests were too well fed for it to be other. We had had three courses when the Bishop, who had been just picking at his food while drinking heavily, turned and said, “Earl Marshal, I cannot eat while I wonder what King Henry wishes to say to me. Come to my chambers and tell me so that I may enjoy the rest of the meal.”
“Of course.”
Everyone watched us as we left. There was a guard at his door. We entered and sat down. He looked at me expectantly. “I will be blunt with you Bishop Puiset, the King is not happy with your lack of vigour against the Scots.”
“What can I do?”
“I said that I will be blunt and I shall. He is keen to have another Bishop here in your stead. He would have a man who can fight the Scots.”
His face fell, “But the Pope himself….”
“The Pope is in Rome and you are here.” I smiled, “It is why my son put Sir John in the castle at Norham. We need a strong leader.”
“What if I had a strong leader to put there?”
“Have you?”
He gave me a sly look. “I may have. Allow me to have the night to think on this. You can reassure King Henry that, from now on, he has a Prince Bishop who will be a rock against the Scots.”
“Good and when the taxes follow he will, indeed, be a very happy king!”
We rejoined the others and the wine had been flowing. I was pleased that my son and our squires had not emulated the others and he had refrained from drinking too heavily. As we passed the two knights I noticed their accents. They were speaking Norman but they were French. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. What was going on?
The Bishop had given me, my son and our squires a chamber to use. It may have been an insult, I was the representative of the King, but it suited us. The four of us sat and spoke of what we had learned.
“The Bishop is taxing his people heavily. His knights are unhappy.”
I looked at William, “How did you learn that?”
“The priest who was on the other side of Sir Ralph told me. Sir Ralph was asking about Fissebourne. The priest told him that the knight who had been there had tired of the taxes and gone to the Holy Land. He laughed when Sir Ralph said that he hoped for it. I saw Sir Ralph’s spirits sink.”
“Fissebourne is almost a neighbour. I would rather it was Sir Ralph there than a knight appointed by the Bishop.” I told them about the two French knights.
James nodded, “I was going to tell you that lord. They have been in the castle for two months. They have men at arms with them. That had not travelled from France but Rome. One of the priests who was seated close to Alf and I said that they were hoping for a manor. There was Fissebourne. I think the other hoped for Norham.”
I stood and smacked one hand against the other. “Now it all makes sense. I wondered at the sly look on the Bishop’s face. I see the Pope’s fingers in this. Thank you, James, forewarned is forearmed. I can now wrestle for a solution to this dilemma.” I began to undress. The Church and the other rulers were resentful of the power which Henry wielded. Thanks to his wife and our conquests he now ruled the largest Empire save the Byzantine. Henry did not listen to Rome. His grandfather had been the same. It was why he appointed free thinking priests like Thomas Becket to positions of power. This was the Church’s chance to infiltrate the Palatinate with knights who would advance Rome’s cause. The fact that they were French was even more sinister. The King of France was a great supporter of the Pope. However, he also wished to make England less stable. Thanks to our conquests in Wales and the peace with Scotland King Henry could not turn his attention to Anjou, Normandy and, perhaps, France. By the time I had fallen asleep an idea had formed in my head and sleep strengthened it. I awoke refreshed and eager to meet with the Bishop.
We were the first ones up. Sir Ralph joined us. He looked depressed, “What is amiss, Sir Ralph?”
“When I was speaking with your son and Canon Michael last night I discovered that I could wait until the end of time and not be granted a manor. My squire and I will have to seek our fortune elsewhere.” He forced a wan smile. “At least I have my letter from the Master of the Hospitallers.”
I shook my head, “I fear they have less influence here than the Templars. It is why the Templars are such a rich order.”
We ate in silence. Eventually the Bishop appeared. He was followed by the two French knights. “Ah Earl, I am pleased that, like me, you are an early riser.” I nodded although we had been up a good hour already. “As I said I have slept on the problem and come up with a solution.” He pointed to the two knights. “These knights seek a manor. Both are doughty warriors. I would give one Fissebourne and one Norham. Your Sir John can return to his wife at Elton. He will be pleased, will he not? It will mean he will be home when his child is born.”
I flicked a glance at William. The Bishop had a spy in our land.
“And who are these men? Remember, Bishop, I have to approve them.”
“You? But…”
“Remember our conversation in your chambers?” He nodded. “Who are they?”
“One is Jean of Auxerre and the other is Guillame de Nissa.”
“Frenchmen.”
He adopted an innocent look, “Does that matter?”
“This is England, your Grace. The King would have either Normans or Angevin if he cannot have English. That is not an acceptable solution.”
He sat back in his seat and the two Frenchmen glared at me. One said, “I am insulted, my lord.”
“Why, because I told you that you are French or that you are not English? Either way it matters not. You are foreigners in my land. Watch your words or it may end badly.”
The Bishop spluttered, “My lord this is my castle!”
“And I am Earl Marshal. Now listen to me, Hugh de Puiset, I have a solution. You have one knight who is acceptable to me. And I will allow you to have Norham.”
He brightened, “I can have Norham?”
“In exchange for Fissebourne. You and your knights have proved inept at stopping the Scots from entering my land through Fissebourne. I would have that and Sir Ralph here can have Norham.”
“Sir Ralph but…”
“But he is one of your knights. He has the backing of the Master of the Hospitallers and I believe he would hold Norham against the privations of the Scots. Is that not right, Sir Ralph?”
I could see that I had taken him by surprise, “Of course lord I…”
“And we know that he has the right qualities for a church manor as the Master of the Hospitallers has recommended him. Is there a problem? You get Norham and I get Fissebourne. We both know that Norham is more valuable and your new lord of the manor will ensure that you receive all that is due to you.” My voice and tone told him that I would brook no argument. His shoulders slumped. I had won the argument. He would come up with some other plot and device but, for the present all was well.
We spent some time debating the logistics of the handover.
The Bishop and his two angry Frenchmen left us. William and I spent time with Sir Ralph. “I do not know how to thank you lord but how do you know that I will do a better job than either of those Frenchmen?”
“Because they are French and the Master recommended you. My son trusts the Master and that is good enough for me.”
William said, “But there is a problem. You have but your squire. You will need men to garrison the castle.” He shouted, “Alf, fetch quill and parchment!”
“Aye lord.” His squire hurried off.
“There are thirteen men at Bamburgh. They swore an oath to me. They were Englishmen who fought for the Scots. I believe you can trust them. You can have those as the heart of your defence. You will need more but the Bishop will have to pay for the other men. You should choose your own men. If they come from the Bishop then I would not trust them. If he has any sense then he will have the castle improved and made of stone. It is a good castle to defend. You have a river and a gully to protect two of the sides of the castle. Bamburgh is King Henry’s castle and it is close enough to you to be of assistance.”
“Thank you both. The Master was right, Earl William. You are a man of honour and integrity.”
Later that morning, as we rode south I was even prouder of my son. The land would be in good hands when he took control.
Chapter 8
William was aware that Sir Ralph had no archers and so he began to spread word, further south, that he was seeking archers. It took less than a month for us to see the results. His reputation and, I must confess, mine meant that ten archers arrived at the castle. My son equipped them and sent them north to Norham. When they arrived Sir John could return to his new estate.
“And what of Elton? It is not as rich as Fissebourne but it is a good manor and guards the road from the west.”
Irish War (Anarchy Book 16) Page 11