Hugh Corbett 11 - The Demon Archer (32 page)

‘Simon often writes to his family in England,’ the King continued.

‘Sire, what has this got to do with the negotiations for the betrothal of your son and the Princess Isabella?’

Edward waved a hand. ‘Oh, don’t worry about that. My good friend, John de Warrenne, Earl of Surrey, will lead our embassy. You should be in Dover in three days and in France before the end of the week. Other lords and ladies will accompany him.’

‘So, the betrothal will go ahead?’

‘Of course!’ Edward smiled. ‘It is a sworn treaty, sanctified by the Holy Father in Avignon. However, there are one or two little clauses I would like to discuss with you.’

‘What clauses?’

‘Ah, that’s why I mentioned Roulle’s letters. He was a great gossiper, a friend of Lord Henry Fitzalan, not to mention Signor Cantrone and Lady Madeleine. Well, to cut a long story short, de Craon, I am deeply distressed at the malicious rumours that Queen Johanna of France did not die of natural causes.’ Edward kept his face grave though he was gratified by the alarm in de Craon’s eyes. ‘Some say that she was poisoned. Isn’t that dreadful?’

‘They lie and my master will have their heads!’ de Craon retorted.

‘Quite right.’ Edward scratched his head. ‘These same scurrilous gossips also point to the sudden and unexplained deaths of Monsieur Gilles Malvoisin, Queen Johanna’s physician, and Madame Malvoisin his wife, not to mention Malvoisin’s assistant and close friend Signor Cantrone.’

De Craon licked his lips. Edward leaned forward.

‘It grieves my heart, Amaury,’ he said in a low voice, ‘that these same gossips lay the blame for Queen Johanna’s death at the door of my beloved brother in Christ, Philip. They tell fabulous tales, how Philip wishes to marry again, a Flemish princess! Or, even worse, that he wishes to become a bachelor, gain entry into the Templars and so dominate that Order.’

‘These are lies! What is their source?’

‘We’ll come to that in a while.’ Edward offered his goblet to de Craon. ‘I merely tell you this out of friendship.’

De Craon took the cup.

‘So incensed am I by these malicious rumours,’ Edward continued, thoroughly enjoying himself, ‘that I intend to write to the Holy Father and, indeed, all the crowned heads of Europe, to refute them.’

De Craon spluttered on his wine. Edward sprang to his feet, pushed the cup away and patted him hard on the back.

‘It’s a good, strong claret,’ he said. ‘The best MY,’ Edward emphasised the word, ‘MY duchy of Gascony can produce.’

‘There is no need to do that.’ De Craon coughed. ‘Please, sire, there is no need for that. By writing such letters the rumours would only spread.’

‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that!’ Edward admitted, retaking his seat. ‘But they are terrible lies. I mean, if the King of France married a Flemish princess or tried to control the Order of the Templars which has houses, lands and treasure throughout all of Europe, England and its allies would regard that as an act of war. The peace treaty would be rescinded and there would be no marriage between my boy and the Princess Isabella.’

‘Your Majesty jumps too far too soon!’

‘You do not wish me to write such a letter? You want me to keep the matter secret and confidential?’

‘Of course, sire. But, if you could tell us the source of such slander?’

‘I will in due time.’ Edward sat up straight in the chair. ‘But there are a few,’ he waved a hand, ‘a few anomalies about this betrothal treaty.’

‘Your Majesty?’

‘I want the dowry to be doubled: six hundred thousand pounds sterling.’

De Craon blanched. ‘I think that’s possible, in the circumstances,’ he stammered.

‘Good! I want my sweet brother’s assurance that all aid and sustenance to the rebels in Scotland will cease forthwith.’

‘Agreed!’

‘I want my sweet brother’s confirmation that the duchy of Gascony and the city of Bordeaux are recognised as belonging to the English crown.’

‘Agreed!’

Edward spread his hands. ‘Then we are in harmony?’

‘Nothing else?’ de Craon asked suspiciously.

Edward pursed his lips and shook his head.

‘My master the King of France will agree to these, but what assurances do we have that this malicious gossip will not be spread?’

‘I sent Hugh Corbett to Ashdown,’ Edward replied. ‘He knows about these rumours. He is sworn to secrecy. However, you’ve met Lady Madeleine Fitzalan?’

‘Half-sister to Lord Henry and prioress at St Hawisia’s?’

‘The same.’

‘An arrogant woman,’ de Craon said. ‘I heard rumours . . .’

‘Such rumours are correct, Seigneur Amaury. Lady Madeleine is a threat to the amity of both our kingdoms. She learned this malicious gossip from Cantrone and told it to her brother. Only she has the details.’ Edward waved a hand. ‘The time, the places, et cetera, et cetera. She refused to tell Sir Hugh very much. We think she is the root and cause of it all and provided details to her brother. Of course,’ Edward smiled, ‘she is now the only surviving member of that unholy trinity! I believe Fitzalan’s murder, and that of Cantrone, were over this malicious story and who should profit from it!’

‘Thieves falling out?’

‘Precisely, de Craon.’

‘So what shall we do, sire?’

Edward caught the word ‘we’ and smiled.

‘Yes, Amaury, what shall
WE
do?’ He lifted his hand. ‘Before you leave for Dover, I will take an oath on what I have said today.’

‘On a book of the Gospels?’ de Craon asked.

‘On a book of the Gospels,’ Edward confirmed. He picked up the cup, then remembered de Craon spluttering in it so he put it back on the table. ‘This evening, Amaury, you can lodge here and you must attend the banquet tonight. I have a special choir. I’ve taught them a beautiful hymn. We’ll have good roast beef and pledge eternal amity.’

‘Lady Madeleine Fitzalan?’ Amaury insisted.

‘Oh yes, you will write to me, offering me your condolences on the death of her brother and requesting . . .’

De Craon’s face split into a smile.

‘That Lady Madeleine Fitzalan accompany us to France so my master can console her personally?’

‘Amaury! Amaury!’ Edward stretched forward, clasped de Craon’s hand and squeezed it viciously. ‘I love our little talks.’

‘A journey across the Narrow Seas,’ de Craon mused as he nursed his bruised fingers, ‘can be fraught with dangers.’

‘If anything happened to Lady Madeleine,’ the King replied, ‘I would not hold you or your master accountable.’

De Craon bowed. ‘In which case, Your Majesty.’

He scraped back his chair and got to his feet. Edward did likewise, came round and grasped de Craon in a bear-like hug. They exchanged the kiss of peace. The French envoy, gratified, responded but stiffened as the King’s embrace became vice-like.

‘But Corbett,’ Edward whispered in the Frenchman’s ear, ‘Corbett I regard as my brother. If anything should happen to him and I can lay it at your door or that of your master in Paris, God be my witness, dear Amaury, you will be able to measure your life span in a few heartbeats!’

Edward released the envoy and stood back.

‘We have an understanding, Seigneur de Craon?’

De Craon gave the most ostentatious bow.

‘In the pursuit of a common peace, sire, I and my master understand you completely!’

This, of course, is a work of fiction but it contains many strands of historical truth. In the Middle Ages relics were often forged and led to a brisk international trade which ran into literally hundreds of thousands of pounds. The best examples of a shrine making its possessors millionaires is, of course, St Thomas à Becket’s in Canterbury or the phial, allegedly containing the Precious Blood, held by Hailes Abbey.

There was intense diplomatic activity between France and England over Philip’s demand that his only daughter Isabella marry the Prince of Wales. Philip, aided by a lawyer, Pierre Dubois, dreamed of having a grandson on the throne of England. The marriage took place in January 1308. However, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. All of Philip’s sons died without issue while Isabella’s offspring, in turn, laid claim to the crown of France which marked the beginning of the Hundred Years War.

After 1303 Philip suddenly met with a fresh set of demands by Edward I. I have looked at the original in the Archive Nationale in Paris: Carton J 655 No. 25. One of these demands was for a massive dowry which, as Professor Elizabeth Brown maintains in her scholarly study, ‘Customary Aids and Royal Finance in Capetin France’ (Med. Academy of America 1992), almost bankrupted the French treasury.

The story that Johanna, Philip’s wife, was poisoned, is contained in the
Chronographia Regum Francorum
edited by H. Moranville, Volume 1 (Paris 1891). The same source also repeats the rumour about Philip wishing to marry a Flemish princess and/or take over the Order of the Templars against which Philip launched his savage persecution in 1307.

Gaveston was a real historical figure. He was banished from England by Edward I but the favourite’s insistence on slipping secretly into the kingdom led to well-attested, acrimonious disputes between father and son. On Edward’s death in 1307 Gaveston was recalled only to meet violent opposition and murder in 1312.

 

Paul C. Doherty