by Griff Hosker
I nodded, “We cannot leave until the morning tide. I will have a room prepared for you and I will tell my wife.” I left Sir Richard to speak with my father. They knew each other.
Although Rebekah would understand she would not be happy. I found her speaking with Alice and John, my steward. “My father and I have been summoned to London.”
As there were others close by she controlled her feelings and her face. “Will you be away long, husband?”
“I know not but I hope it will be brief. The King wishes advice.”
“And he has no one closer than two knights three hundred miles away?” Her words were laden with sarcasm.
I was going to mention the new title but realised that would be the wrong thing to say. Money and power meant nothing to Rebekah. “Is there anything you wish from London?”
She gave me a wry smile, “Aye, my husband and his father safely returned.”
Alice crossed herself and said, “Amen to that my lady.”
I could not win. I sought out Thomas. He was in the outer ward practising with James de Puiset and his squire, Stephen. Simon, my father’s squire, was watching and giving advice. I waited until they had finished their routine and said, “Thomas, Simon, you need to pack chests for my father and myself. We sail on the morning tide for London. The King wishes to speak with us.”
Thomas asked, “Will we need horses, lord?”
“I have been promised that there will be no war. Leave the helmets and shields here too.”
The two hurried off. James came over. He sheathed his sword, “Lord, I would deem it an honour if my squire and I could accompany you. I have learned much already and a visit to London could only add to that.”
Since he had joined us James and Henry of Auckland had worked diligently to become part of my household. He deserved the opportunity. “It will be dull. Court is not what you think. It is full of backstabbing politicians who are only out for themselves.”
James smiled, “Then I ought to see how the Earl of Cleveland deals with such people. I beg you let us come. Your son and your other knights are married. I am the only bachelor knight. You will take servants, let us be your bodyguards.”
“We should not need them but if you are willing to suffer the ennui then come.”
I was actually happy to have the company. Samuel would have come but my son and his wife were still trying to have a child. It would be unfair to drag him away from her.
The year and a half my father had spent away from Henry and the politics of England and Normandy had done him good. He looked healthier and he was back to his old self. He knew, as we all did, that his days as a warrior were gone. Although his chest had healed he had had a poor winter when the damp made him cough and he was confined to a bed for ten days.
As we headed south James probed Sir Richard about the court. My father and I watched our land slip by as we tacked and turned our way around huge bends in the river. My father pointed to the bend we had just come around. It was close to the manor of Norton. The gap between the two sides of the river was less than three hundred paces. “You know, William, I have often thought that if we made a cut between the two sections of the river we could save hours on this journey to the sea.” I nodded. “Since I have been home I have looked at my land with new eyes. I have spent less than a third of my life here and yet it is my home. There is so much I could have done had time and the needs of the realm allowed.”
“Perhaps, when we return, we could devise a way to do this. We have the labour. Our ranks are full and idle hands make for mischief.”
“I should like that. It would be good to work together to make our valley stronger. You will have more coin soon. The lands to the south of the river are rich fiefs. The Archbishop must think highly of you to gift them to you.”
“It might have been a bribe from the King. Perhaps they are also intended for you. We keep the Archbishop’s lands safe.”
“No, my son, take nothing away from yourself. This is a reward for a task completed which few other men could have achieved. That you make it look easy is a compliment to you.”
I noticed that the motion of the ship was changing as we entered the tidal waters. Soon the air would be cooler. I waved over Harold One Eye, my servant. “Have Wilfred fetch a cloak for the Warlord. We will soon be at sea.”
My father stared north, towards the sands where the seals basked. “I wonder if the King thinks that the problem of Scotland is gone. I hope that he does not wish you to go with him abroad again.”
“Neither do I. The problem of Scotland is still there. We now have a plan in place to deal with William should he decide to attack but that is dependent upon me being in the valley. If the Scots attack while I am serving the King then it could prove disastrous for us.”
“If this is a problem with his sons then I would not worry overmuch. They are all young and we know that young men are sometimes reckless but they change.”
I looked around and saw that he was studying me, “You are talking about me.”
He smiled, “You were seduced at the court of Geoffrey of Anjou and your head was turned. We were lucky that King Henry did not have the same experience. His sons are without Eleanor. The Empress Matilda was always there at her son’s side or if not then it was me or his uncle, Gloucester. They will emerge from this dark place and be better men for it. You were. You returned from the crusades a different man.”
“But I was of your blood.” I remembered the dark days in Normandy when I hunted, caroused, wenched and neglected my family. Worse I had disparaged my father and ignored his sage advice. I had been punished and done my penance. Perhaps he was right. The blood of Henry ran through the veins of young Henry, Richard and Geoffrey. John was still too young to be a rebel!
The ship was a basic one with little in the way of accommodation. The servants and squires were worse off than we four. We had a small cabin which we shared but they were in the hold. We learned much from Sir Richard despite his reluctance to tell us anything. We learned that Richard was spending more time with his mother in Aquitaine and that King Henry did not like it. Geoffrey was still unhappy about his lack of land. He was still just Count of Nantes and he wanted more. Young King Henry appeared to be the most rebellious of the sons. He wanted to be able to spend money and King Henry was, in my view, wisely withholding the treasury from him. He had the title but neither power nor influence. My father had told me that he thought making Young Henry joint king was a mistake and he was being proven to be right.
Sir Richard was more forthcoming about events away from the palace. “Ireland is now firmly under the King’s control. De Clare and King Rory O’Connor, the High King, appear to have the island under their control.”
“The castles helped then?” My father had been the one to suggest strategic sites for the castles.
“The Irish cannot fight against them. The Welsh are contained but the King thinks he needs castles there too.” It begged the question why he did not build them but I suppose he was preoccupied.
My father knew the right questions to ask, “And France? The Vexin?”
“They are still problematic, Warlord. King Louis fosters rebellion and resentment from across the border. He has tried to have important lords married off to the daughter of his leaders. There are rumours that he has employed hired killers to eliminate the leaders who are loyal to King Henry.”
I asked, “Have any died?”
“Not yet and it is just a rumour.”
My father nodded, “The rumour itself will be as successful as a killing. It is the fear of what might happen which will distract the loyal lords. The rebels will then be abler to gain power subtly.”
This was depressing. “Then the King’s lands in France are in a state of uncertainty?”
“Aquitaine and Anjou are not. For the moment Brittany is quiet. The rebels there have been dispersed but they need a Duke.”
“And Constance is still too young to be wed.”
The King had mad
e what he had thought were good plans but they were unravelling a little.
By the time we entered the Thames estuary we had a better idea of the situation into which we were walking. James de Puiset had said little but when we were alone he confided in me that he found the whole experience fascinating. “My uncle sees himself as a man with power. Listening to Sir Richard I can see that, in reality, as Bishop of Durham he has little. You and the Warlord have more importance. Why else would he summon you to London?”
“There may come a time, James, when you have to choose between your uncle and me. That will be a test of your loyalties.”
He laughed, “It will not. I know that you and your father work for England. My uncle works for himself. There will be no divided loyalties.”
The river was a crowded and busy waterway. My river saw barely a ship every four or five days. Here the captain had to wait for the ships before us to move. The river also reeked of human and animal excrement. Waste was hurled into the river. There were no fishing ships on the Thames or if there were then no one bought the fish they caught. Each year the city sprawled further east and south. I was glad I lived in the north. There we would breathe the air and fish the river. It was no wonder that the King spent more time at Windsor than in London.
“The King is at the Tower, is he not?”
“Aye lord. He prefers Windsor but he needs to be close to his treasury and his counsellors. We are a rich kingdom now and it takes many officials to make it work.”
I could not help smiling. At home we had just John and he might be aided by his father if it was a busy time.
Simon came along to me. “Will we be long in London lord?”
I looked at Sir Richard who shrugged, “I know not, why?”
Simon pointed at the river. “Brother Peter told me that the Warlord’s chest and his breathing will become worse if he is close to pestilential water. This looks like a river which would make a healthy man ill. I would have him housed as far away from the river as we can manage, lord.”
Sir Richard shook his head, “That might be difficult for the Tower is on this river.”
Windsor was a healthier place and I said so, “Then I will ask the King if we can be housed at Windsor. The air there is cleaner.”
Sir Richard looked at me as though I had spoken blasphemy. He did not know the relationship my father had with the King nor the one I had enjoyed. I had been a close friend of his father, Geoffrey of Anjou. Added to that was the fact that I did not care if I offended the King. He needed my father and me more than we needed him.
The King was not in the Tower. He was meeting with his ‘curia regis’ at Westminster Hall. As we were heading for our chambers Thomas asked me, “Lord what is the curia regis?”
“It is just a royal counsel. The great officers and churchmen meet and advise the King. If we lived close then both the Warlord and myself would be there. Believe me I am glad that we live in the north for they are dull beyond words. I think the King finds them dull too but it is a way to govern and keep the great lords on his side. If there is trouble in his family then he needs as many lords on his side as he can get.”
Sir Richard had managed to get my father a chamber as high up as he could. Simon made certain that the Warlord was as comfortable as possible. James de Puiset took everything in. This was his first time in London. He had not been there to swear an oath to the Young King Henry. I wondered about that. He was full of questions. My father knew more about the Tower than any. He had first visited it in the civil war when Princess Nesta was a guest of the first King Henry. My father was more patient than I would have been. He answered them all. I suppose it was his age although he managed to ascend the stairs easily.
The King arrived back in the late afternoon. I was showing James de Puiset the new buildings which had been erected by the King. King Henry frowned when he saw James, “Who is this lord?”
It was curt but the King had had a day of interminable talk with his counsel. It was to be expected. “This is James de Puiset. He is one of my household knights.”
“De Puiset? The Bishop of Durham?”
“He is my uncle, Your Majesty.”
A frown appeared on the King’s face. “Sir James served with great distinction at the battle of Bamburgh.”
The King nodded, “Leave us.” James flushed and left us. The King led me away from the sentries. “Forgive my brusque manner, Earl, but I am beset with enemies. Until I know him then I do not want him near me.”
“I confess that I am uncertain why my father and I were summoned here. We are best used in the north.”
“You are best used where I determine and right now that is London.”
I stopped walking and faced the King. “You know me, King Henry, I served your father and I serve you. I speak my mind. That is my father’s way and it is mine.”
“Be careful, Earl. I have had a difficult morning.”
“We have come as soon as you sent for us but my father is not a well man. The river here is bad for his health. He would be better served if our meetings were held in Windsor.”
“You have a high opinion of yourself, Earl William, if you think I would move my court to suit an old man.”
“An old man who won your kingdom for you.” He glared at me. “Then let my father stay there. Surely you cannot need his advice all of the time.”
His face softened. “I sometimes forget that there are warriors who have stood shoulder to shoulder with me and fought off my enemies. They deserve the chance to be honest with me. The trouble is, William, that I cannot trust even my own family.”
“My father and I are more than family, lord.”
“You are right.” He smiled and rubbed his beard. “This suits my purposes. We will leave for Windsor on the morrow. If the counsel wishes to speak with me then they can come there to find me. You are certain of this Sir James?”
I suddenly realised that I was not. “It will not be a problem to keep him from discussions. He came here as a bodyguard.”
“And that is wise. Rumour has it that the King of France has killers at large.”
“Templars?”
“Not this time. We interrogate every Templar who arrives in London. They may be in disguise but you can smell a Templar.” He laughed, “Why am I telling you this? You were a crusader.”
“We heard that you are to take crusade too.”
He frowned and then changed it to a smile. He spoke conspiratorially, “Saying that you will take a crusade and travelling half way around the world are two different matters. When my lands are settled then I will take the cross.” The King was a pragmatic man. He would go on crusade when he would reap the benefit.
We returned to the Great Hall. He waved a servant over, “Tell Sir Walter D’Amphraville that we will be moving the court to Windsor on the morrow.”
The courtier must have been waiting in the ante room for the King had barely poured a goblet of wine when he hurried in. “You wish to go to Windsor, Your majesty?”
“Aye I do. Send a servant to let them know.”
“But King Henry, why?”
It was the wrong thing to say and the King turned and glowered at him, “Because I command it!” The man hurried off. “I took him on as a favour to my son. He is the second son of a knight in Normandy with no prospects of a manor. I can see why. I give him until the end of the month and then he returns to Normandy.”
We feasted and King Henry, now aware of my father’s condition, was most solicitous. For his part my father was in good humour. As much as he enjoyed being with his family he always enjoyed being close to the King. I saw something in his eyes I only saw when he looked at Samuel or Ruth and, occasionally, me. Perhaps it was because he had almost raised him. I knew, from personal experience, that Geoffrey of Anjou was not a good father. Once his sons were born then he ignored them until they could lift a sword.
Simon stayed close to my father anticipating his every need. I wondered at his training to be a knight. He seemed
, to me to be more of a servant than a squire. Thomas and Ralph both had more skills and more experience in battle. When we returned north I would ask Simon if he was happy with his position. He had skills to be a knight; he had just neglected them of late.
It was not a long journey to Windsor and the King did not wait for baggage. We rode swiftly along well-maintained roads and he swept into the castle. This was Henry’s royal hunting lodge as well as his castle and he was a frequent visitor. However even my father surprised when he was greeted, as we entered the hall, by a stunning beauty. No more than seventeen summers old, Ida de Tosny threw her arms around the King and kissed him. I thought he might have been embarrassed but he was not. He smacked her on the buttocks and said, “Go warm my bed! I have business with these lords.”
I saw disappointment on my father’s face. He remembered Geoffrey of Anjou. He, too, had had mistresses but he had been a little more discreet than King Henry.
The King turned to Sir James, “You and the squires see to the horses. I would speak with the two Earls privately!” Sir Walter D’Amphraville smirked and he stood patiently with Sir Richard Fortescue. “And you two can make yourselves scarce. Wait without. I need privacy.”
Once alone my father asked, “What is amiss, Your Majesty. This is not like you.”
He nodded, “I have missed your wisdom Warlord. I decided to give John three castles. He has nothing. I thought it inconsequential. First Geoffrey objected saying that he had had to work and to fight for his poor little fief of Nantes.”
“But he will be Duke of Brittany one day. Has he no patience?”
“Apparently not, Earl William. And Henry has taken himself off to one of his castles in the north. He is unhappy too.”
“But why?”
“Because Warlord, the three castles were in Normandy and belonged to him.”
I said nothing but I thought that he had missed more than my father’s wisdom. He had missed basic common sense.