‘And there was the disaster of Medina del Campo.’ She was glad to show she knew something about recent events.
‘You know of that?’
‘The Marqués de Denia told me.’
‘And did he tell you it was the Archbishop of Granada who was responsible?’
‘Dear Lord, no he did not! Nor did the archbishop; and he has been here every day for four days! But the regent, he must still have an army?’
‘Dismissed; he could no longer pay them. The Treasury is empty because the cities finally withheld their payments. My lady, Spain awaits your orders. Everyone will obey you, would be content to die for you.’
‘Gentlemen, you are the true defenders of Spain.’ Once more Juana had to strive to control her delight. Those enchanting words speaking of freedom and loyalty; the knowledge that they shared a common enemy; that they regarded her without question as queen thrilled her beyond words.
‘This, my lady, is how we propose to keep Spain safe.’ Padilla offered her a scroll of parchment.
She read its contents aloud.
‘The king must return to Spain and live here.
If he leaves the kingdom it would be unlawful to
appoint a foreigner as regent.
On his return he must not bring more Flems.
There will be no foreign troops on Spanish soil.
Only Spaniards are to hold office.
No foreigners may be naturalised.
Each city is to have elected representatives.
Sending gold, silver and jewels out of the
kingdom is to be made a capital offence.
The present regent must be replaced by a Castilian.
The king must pardon all irregularities
that the cities might have committed
through excess of zeal.
The king must swear to accept all these
articles and never seek the Pope’s absolution
from this oath.’
These were virtually the same grievances as a generation ago when Philip was king. Juana rolled up the parchment then paused, searching for a way to begin.
‘After the death of my mother I always obeyed my father, because he was the king. From the beginning I wanted to be involved, wanted to know what was happening. But then my father put me here. I cannot remember why. And then, later, the foreigners had arrived. I was led to believe that the sole reason they were here was because of the visit of my children, Charles and Leonor, and that my father was still alive. I have had wicked people about me telling me so many lies, deceiving me.’
She shook her head to rid herself of the muddle always ready to return. ‘I have a great love for my people and it pains me greatly that they have been treated so ill. I marvel that you have not already taken vengeance on those who have done such wrong. I would have tried harder myself but I was always afraid that some harm would befall my children here or in Flanders if I insisted too much. In any case there was no one ever to listen to me. I have no idea if those enemies are still prepared to injure either my children or me. Perhaps we are safe now that I am the queen, and you are all here to protect me. At the very beginning I was unable to involve myself with government because I was trying to come to terms with my husband's death. And then I did for a while, but that stopped when I came here …’
Juana knew she wasn’t expressing herself coherently but it was all too complicated, impossible to explain. She pressed on, ‘Gentlemen, I am relieved to see you here for you understand the wrongs which have to be righted, and I can tell it would rest heavy on your consciences if you did not attend to them.’ This was much better; she was on safe ground again. ‘Therefore I charge you with this duty; name four of the most knowledgeable and wise amongst you to come here every day to keep me informed. I will listen and speak with them and I will do what I can as it becomes necessary.’
Zuñiga took Padilla aside, ‘There are two things yet. First, we need more than the queen's word assuring our authority, we must have her sign those Articles, and then we must have Charles relegated to prince. How can we be taking orders from the queen and her son still the king?’
‘Quite simply,’ answered Padilla, ‘because the Cortes have always insisted that should the queen be restored to full health then that would automatically be the case. It is obvious she is well. The Cortes is not in session but I do not see anyone in Spain objecting to Juana as queen and Charles as prince. Nonetheless, I will obtain the signature although I think you are being over-cautious.’
He approached Juana, ‘We are at your bidding. The four men shall be chosen immediately. I also think it would be better if we were to move our headquarters here to Tordesillas.’
‘An excellent idea Padilla, see to it.’
‘And may I ask you to sign these Articles? It would prevent anyone doubting our authority.’
‘That is a most sensible idea. When you come tomorrow with your committee I will have a secretary here and we shall attend to it. Brother Juan, my confessor, will arrange that. One last item before I retire; I wish to have some ladies chosen for me from the town. Oh, and do you know what has become of Denia?’
‘Denia is not allowed anywhere near the palace.’
Denia is not allowed anywhere near the palace. How sweet those words were. ‘Good day gentlemen, we shall meet tomorrow.’
The room emptied and she was left alone with the priest. ‘Would it be blasphemy to call this a miracle?’
‘Perhaps the hand of God has been in the making of these things.’
‘At last I am free. I may go to church again, in fact, do anything I wish. I can choose my own ministers. We will make this my palace instead of my prison. We will hold our meetings here. There is so much to be done.’
‘You have honest, brave men working for you and Spain to set things to rights. It will take some time and a great deal of patience. You have made an excellent start in suggesting a committee of four. I would suggest that at tomorrow's audience you advise them that you will restrict their attendance before you to once a week. Time will be needed to consider their information before communicating it to Castile and the rest of Spain.’
‘Dear Brother Juan, of course you are right. Thank you for keeping my feet on the ground; I confess I feel like an over-excited child. The Articles of the Communes, should I sign them? I agree whole heartedly with every one of them, they are my sentiments exactly; but I would not want to do anything that would suggest I am taking action against my son.’
Chapter 45
The admiral tugged at his snowy beard, pursed his lips, thought a moment or two then looked across the chess table to his friend. ‘I still find it difficult to believe the success of our campaign against the rebels, Hernando.’
The board had been set up close to a brazier to offer them comfort from the icy January draught that wandered freely about the rooms of the palace. The admiral pulled the collar of his lynx-lined gown more tightly about his neck, ‘Too bad it had to happen in winter. I have never cared much for Tordesillas at this time of year. It may be my age but I think this is the coldest it’s ever been. Your move, Knight Commander Hernando.’
‘One moment, I have lost my concentration. Let me see.’ Following some deliberation the commander moved his white knight up the board to join the queen, and sat back. ‘You know, that business of suggesting Queen Juana marry the Prince of Calabria was a rash move.’
‘That is where the Alliance lost the focus of their argument, Hernando. That would have denied Charles his throne. That had never figured as one of their Articles,’ replied Don Fadrique moving his black king out of check. ‘It’s all very sad; there are many of their concerns that I would go along with; but, having said that, I still feel more comfortable in my bed with the royal standard flying over the town.’
‘A good six or seven hours work by our determined fighting men, eh? It was intelligent of the constable’s son to march his men here by night ready to make a surprise dawn attack, and clever to find the weakest
part of the wall just waiting to be breached.’
‘It was too bad that Juana was unable to persuade the guard to order the gates be opened to us.’
‘Impossible, of course, too many of them by then feared retribution,’ commented Hernando moving his castle to the top of the board to take the admiral's which had been left unguarded.
‘Damn, I must be getting too old, the poor brain is fuddled.’ The admiral looked at his remaining pieces and saw it was simply a matter of time. He moved his queen back, furious at having played so badly.
‘Glorious from our point of view; pouring through the broken wall, climbing above the gates to set up our pennants and banners.’ Hernando studied the board. ‘The cannon, the gunfire, hand to hand fighting, then trumpets and drums joined by the clamour of church bells. Then setting the houses afire …’
‘Perhaps it was a grand sight for a soldier but not for Juana and Catalina. It must have been terrifying. Imagine, all alone and deserted amidst that dreadful confusion, rushing through the dangerous streets jostling with frantic townsfolk, finally getting to the convent only to discover there was no cart to carry Philip’s coffin if they were pressed to flee. Then a frightening dash back to the palace.’
‘And then, so I’m told, the constable’s son came riding into the courtyard to leap down from his horse and fall on his knees before the queen to say he was her protector. Oh admiral, if only I had been there. That is the very stuff of romances.’
‘If only that were the case, my friend.’ The admiral removed his cap and scratched his balding head.
‘If only what were the case?’
Don Fadrique placed his hands flat on the chess board and leaned towards him, ‘If only the lad could have continued as her protector instead of this damned Marqués de Denia.’
‘Too true, too true. It’s quite dreadful.’ The commander tut-tutted, ‘I know of no one, not one single grandee who can stomach the man. For months many refused to rally to our cause because of him. If King Charles hadn’t made you and the constable regents and offered rewards to the waverers I don’t know where we would be.’
‘In a terrible mess!’
Hernando lowered his voice. ‘Fadrique, I have written to the king. I told him that Denia has come back here to renew his duties without any authority and with far too much vigour. I said that this is viewed very badly and that many of us are worried. I asked him to write commanding the marqués to temper his behaviour, to consider his approach towards our royal ladies and their servants, and I also said that he and his wife should be ordered to treat the princess with more consideration.’
‘Good man. I wrote too but I doubt if the king will heed my words.’
‘He surely must; after all you are kin. And besides he must know the great debt he owes you as Castile’s great leader.’
‘We shall see. However, I told him much the same as you, saying how unpopular the man is not only here in the palace but in the town itself. And I pointed out that it would be extremely unwise to have him govern the queen's household without someone to keep a check on things. It should be a shared responsibility.’
‘Good thinking.’
They lapsed into silence, the game of chess forgotten; then the admiral got to his feet. ‘I must tell you, friend, I cannot keep it to myself any longer. I fear I have done the queen a great disservice.’
‘Is that what has been playing the devil with your brain? I knew something was wrong. I have never seen you play such a weak game. But come now you must be mistaken. Our queen is, well, like your own child, you have been her protector for many a year. You could never be the cause of any injury.’
‘Yet most things I have done seem to have been of little consequence.’ He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief, coughing and fidgeting with his gown. ‘Forgive me. You are right; I have always regarded her as my ward. She has had much to contend with, a damn sight more than most, what with Philip, Ferdinand, and now with Charles …’
‘Then, dear friend, with all the love you have for her what makes you think you might be the cause of any trouble?’
‘Unwittingly, Hernando, unwittingly; a simple thing, or so it seemed at the time. Remember, she never signed anything for the Holy Alliance, even when they threatened her, correct? But she did sign something for me. That, I am afraid could be her undoing.’
‘Come, friend, what could be so serious in that?’
‘She signed a decree commanding the Comuneros, this Holy Alliance, to put down their arms and send their men home.’
‘I would warrant any man would welcome that.’
‘My immediate reaction; but I hadn’t thought it through properly. The fact that she signed any document would persuade Castile that she is of sound mind thereby making Charles no more than a prince; just think of it! The other two regents insisted that I destroy it.’
The entrance of Adrian of Utrecht and the new constable interrupted him.
The admiral was first to speak thinking how much easier it had been for him to work with the last constable, this fellow’s father. ‘What news of the Alliance?
Constable Iñigo was eager to report its disarray, ‘It is split. There are those still eager to rob all the nobility of their lands and rents, and offer them to the king in exchange for their so-called rights. Most have fled after this latest defeat, while others have returned to their estates, weary of it all. Padilla, Bravo, Maldonado continue to fight, the necessary monies being raised by Padilla's wife, who has stolen the plate from the churches and the cathedral of Toledo. Most cities and towns are welcoming our armies. Be of good cheer for our enemies are dejected, they will lose. So will those in Aragón, Navarre and Majorca; of this there is no longer any doubt. It is infuriating, however, that many still plunder and run home with their spoils.’
Adrian added, ‘The excellent news is that more and more nobles are joining our cause. But I would speak of that other matter, admiral. Has it been destroyed?’
‘I tore it up with my own two hands and burned it. It is gone. It no longer exists,’ he raised his gnarled hands as if to prove by their emptiness he had complied with their wishes.
Adrian and the constable nodded their satisfaction.
‘Unfortunately, admiral, we still lack funds. The Treasury is empty.’ Adrian had no other recourse but to mention this although he knew it would invite a reprimand from Don Fadrique.
And the admiral was swift to attack, enjoying a moral upper hand. ‘If you and the rest of the king's ministers had not been so busy in wanton spending, in appropriating funds for the coffers of Flanders, or for his majesty's campaign for the Imperial Crown, we should not be in this sorry state. And, by the way, have you taken into account what it is costing us, the lords, individually? We have called our vassals off the land, leaving farming to limp along as best it can. We have had to provide the arms, pay for all provisions. Such a burden cannot be borne much longer, I assure you, not at the rate we are having to sell off our plate.’
Adrian and Iñigo were well aware of how indebted they were to the admiral for bringing about the much-needed rally to the royal cause, and for how deep he had dug into his own purse. He was also the nobles' favourite, while they themselves were not popular. They needed him.
Adrian looked to the constable who was not inclined to speak, leaving it to him to make the announcement. ‘The time has come to sell the queen's plate and jewels.’
‘Over my dead body!’ Don Fadrique growled.
The commander, who had sat silently throughout, spoke up, uncomfortable with the thought of touching Juana’s personal belongings. ‘It is surely to the king that you must turn. He will know best where to seek finances. Also, no decisions regarding the queen’s property should be made without his knowledge. Ah, speaking of the queen …’
Juana could still look elegant and, in her black velvet dress with its red and gold trim, her black hood edged with pearls and gold, the admiral thought her as lovely as ever.
Catalina followed behind, a
charming vision in green velvet with red satin linings to the turned back sleeves and panelled skirts.
‘Don Fadrique I could wait not a moment more. Tell me has the Alliance responded to our decree to lay down their arms?’
‘My lady I have been unable …’
Adrian interrupted, ‘With respect, the rebels are gradually returning to their homes.’
‘Not rebels,’ she wagged her finger at him, ‘but men who sought to right many wrongs and were neither against myself nor my son. But we shall not argue the point. What is the present state of Castile?’
‘Most cities have opened their gates to our armies without fighting and are now returning to normality.’
The constable added, ‘And this is good news. It should not be too long before we can summon a full meeting of the Cortes. It has been a dangerous time for our country to be without proper leadership. There has been too much disorder and violence.’
‘True constable,’ Juana agreed. ‘My poor country. And the Cortes; shall we summon them here?’
‘When the Cortes is convened it will be in Valladolid.’
‘Even better; Catalina and I would prefer that.’
‘Maman,’ Catalina clapped her hands, ‘I would dearly love to go there, to leave this place with its marqués and marquesa.’
‘Catalina, this is not the time.’ Juana was shocked by Catalina's outburst in the presence of the regents.
Iñigo was taken aback, ‘I am surprised to hear that you are not content with the master of your household. I would remind you that it was your brother, the king, who made the marqués governor of the palace. I have written to Flanders that I intend putting all the responsibilities back in Denia’s hands just as soon as it suits his majesty.’
Juana's blood chilled, ‘Oh dear God, I do not believe this. It cannot be. Sweet Jesus let it not be.’
The admiral was furious. ‘Nor can I believe that you would make so rash a decision in this atmosphere of distrust. Why did we not discuss this? Why did we three together not consider a new appointment? Good God man, we should be seeking harmony not discord.’
That Other Juana Page 26