The Prince of Darkness (54 page)

T
he death of the King had a great impact on feeling throughout the country. No one wished for a foreign ruler. All that had been necessary was to remove the tyrant who was King John. God had done that for them and now the country wanted to be at peace.

Isabella, no longer a prisoner, acted promptly. As soon as she heard that John was dead she determined to have her nine-year-old son Henry crowned immediately. She need not have feared. A party of the King’s supporters and those of the barons came immediately to Winchester. There was no doubt in any minds that Henry must be crowned at once as King of England. The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Winchester.

Now the whole of England was united to drive out the French. This was speedily achieved and England was at peace – the tyrant dead and a young king on the throne with ministers to guide him.

Isabella, with amazing energy at thirty-four years of age, was still possessed of great beauty, and although the mother of five children, she had lost none of her appeal.

She decided to cross the sea, taking with her her daughter Joanna, who was betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan, so that the custom of bringing up a child in the household of her betrothed might be carried out.

The outcome astonished most people, but perhaps not Isabella, for no sooner had Hugh set eyes on her than he knew it was the mother he wished to marry, not her daughter.

So they were married and Isabella bore him many children while she continued with her tempestuous life.

Meanwhile, her son Henry III sat on the throne of England and the royal line which had begun with the Conqueror continued.