The Star of Lancaster (19 page)

He was considering very carefully what must be done for the motherless boys and girls.

Chapter V

T
he children were now in the charge of Mary Hervey and Joan Waring and they lived mainly at Kenilworth and when that castle needed sweetening, they moved for a while to Tutbury. Life went on for them very much in the same way as before their mother’s death, but they missed her sorely. Blanche could not remember her of course, but all the boys did, even three-year-old Humphrey. As for Harry he was sobered for a while. He was seven and old for his years. He felt that in the absence of his father he was head of the family and his ascendancy over his brothers seemed stronger than ever.

He missed her more than Mary and Joan would have believed; and at times he was quiet and rather sad thinking of her. He remembered what she had said to him and he realised that she knew then that she was dying. He promised himself he would try to do what she wanted and in consequence took up a protective attitude towards his brothers.

In the winter of the following year he caught a chill and became so ill that everyone thought he was going to die. His father in an agony of apprehension had the best doctors sent
down from London and very soon Harry was surprising them by his determination to live. His health began to improve and he would lie in his bed listening to the songs of Wilkin Walkin, the minstrel whom their father had sent to them to teach them to sing. They were fond of music because their mother had always seen that there was plenty of it in the household. There were lessons with Mary Hervey and games with his brothers; he commanded them and tolerated his sisters and so life passed during the first year after his mother’s death but none knew more than Harry that it would not remain as it was.

Henry was becoming more and more preoccupied with the country’s affairs. Moreover, the King had gone to Ireland to attempt to sort out the troubles there and John of Gaunt went to Aquitaine with the same purpose in mind. This threw responsibilities on Henry, for the King had made him a member of the Council which ruled during his absence; and as his father was out of the country it was Henry’s task to look after the Lancastrian estates.

Richard and John of Gaunt returned to England; and that year, the second after Mary’s death, two important marriages took place in England.

John of Gaunt snapped his fingers at convention and did what he had wanted to do for a long time and that was marry Catherine Swynford. There were some members of the nobility who were horrified at this, but there were many who applauded it and thought the better of John of Gaunt for making Catherine his wife.

The King was one who approved of the match. He had always liked Catherine; moreover he was completely reconciled to his uncle Lancaster and as he relied on the advice the latter gave him, he was eager to please him. So not only did
he show his approval of the match by receiving Catherine as the new Duchess, but he set his seal on it and won her eternal gratitude by legitimising her children, the Beauforts, which next to marriage with the Duke was her dearest wish.

Henry was pleased. He had always looked upon Catherine as his stepmother and the Beauforts as his brothers. Now they were legally so.

The other marriage was that of Richard himself. Dearly as he had loved Anne he wanted to please his counsellors by marrying again, but he chose Isabella, the daughter of the King of France, much to the consternation of those about him, for Isabella was a child not quite ten years old. Perfect wife as she had been, Anne had failed in one respect. She had not provided an heir to the throne. It seemed the utmost folly therefore for Richard, the main purpose of whose marriage should be the begetting of children, to marry a child who would not be ready for childbearing for some four years at the earliest.

The inference was that Richard did not greatly care for women, and he did not want to replace Anne; and that the thought of a child wife who could be brought up in English ways and make no marital demands suited him very well.

Both John of Gaunt and Henry accompanied the King to France for the royal marriage. As Duchess of Lancaster Catherine Swynford was one of the ladies who would attend the new Queen, as were Mary’s sister Eleanor and the Countess of Arundel. This Countess was Philippa, daughter of the Earl of March and therefore granddaughter of John of Gaunt’s elder brother Lionel. She was very conscious of her royal blood and wished everyone about her to be.

Eleanor and Philippa created a sensation by their rudeness to Catherine and although the latter behaved as though she had
failed to notice their bad manners, John of Gaunt was furious and determined to make them pay at some time for the insult.

There were however matters to occupy them other than this, and Lancaster was very eager that his son should understand the significance of what was happening.

‘What can this marriage of Richard’s mean?’ he asked. ‘Obviously that there can be no heir to the throne for years. Anne could not get one either. The fault may have lain with Richard. The fact that he has chosen this marriage may be a key to the situation. But think what it means, Henry. When he dies who will follow him?’

‘Lionel’s heirs . . .’

John of Gaunt snapped his fingers. ‘Too remote,’ he said. ‘You stand well in line, Henry.’

‘I am the same age as Richard and he seems in good health.’

‘He is unpredictable. At one time he showed signs of becoming a great King. He stood up to the rebels at Blackheath and Smithfield. He was a hero then. But where is the hero now? He faced the rebels because he did not realise what danger he was in. He was a child then. It worked, but it might easily not have done and then instead of a heroic act it would have been judged as one of folly. I see great events looming, Henry, and I want you to be prepared when they come. No more travels. You must stay near home. You must defend our estates. You must see that when the time comes you are at hand.’

So when they returned to England Henry abandoned all thought of further travel and kept a watchful eye on what was happening about the King. There was peace with France but instead of easing the situation this seemed to aggravate it. The people were still complaining about the heavy taxes which were levied on them; and now that there was peace with France – if
only temporary – for what reason did the exchequer need so much money? The answer was clear. Their King lived most extravagantly; he was constantly giving lavish banquets and entertainments to his friends; large sums were spent on his clothes which were bedecked with valuable jewels; the fact was that the people were expected to pay heavily for the upkeep of a Court which was far too luxurious to be paid for without their support.

Would Richard never learn? wondered John of Gaunt. There was trouble brewing.

Richard was aware that revolt was in the air; he knew that the leaders of it were his uncle Thomas of Gloucester, and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick. He decided to act and for once did so promptly. He invited them all to a banquet, his intention being to arrest them when they came. Gloucester and Arundel scented danger and did not appear. Warwick came and was arrested. But Warwick was of less importance than the other two and he was sent to the Tower where he remained. Arundel was lured to London, arrested on a charge of treason and John of Gaunt, as Seneschal of England, presided at his trial and sentenced him to death with some relish as he remembered the insults he had thrown at Catherine.

There remained Gloucester who was eventually captured and sent to Calais where he died mysteriously in an inn, said to have been smothered by feather beds being pressed upon him.

John of Gaunt was very disturbed. Thomas was after all his brother. There had never been great friendship between them even when they were young but when John had arranged for his son to get the coveted Garter award by ousting Thomas he had aroused his vitriolic brother’s enmity; and even more so when he had snatched Mary from his control and married her fortune to his son Henry.

Still he was a brother and, as he confided to Henry, it was interesting to note that the three who had been pursued so relentlessly by the King – Gloucester, Arundel and Warwick – were three of the five Lords Appellant who had some years before confronted the King arms linked to show solidarity and wrung concessions from him.

The other two were Thomas Mowbray and Henry himself.

‘You see,’ said the wise Duke of Lancaster, ‘it is necessary to tread very warily. Richard does not forget what he considers to be an insult. You and Mowbray should be watchful.’

Richard, however, seemed to be fond of his cousin. He made him a Duke and Henry was now Duke of Hereford and Thomas Mowbray was Duke of Norfolk, so it seemed that long-ago incident was forgotten.

When he had bestowed the honour, Richard showed his friendship towards Henry by asking about his family and condoling with him on the death of his wife.

‘We share a misfortune,’ he said, and went on to extol the virtues of his beloved Anne. It was true he had a little Queen of whom he was already fond. A child merely; but he was going to cherish her and bring her up to love England and to be its Queen.

‘In some ways you are more fortunate than I,’ said the King. ‘You have your boys and girls. How many is it now? Four boys, I hear.’

‘Yes, I have four and two girls.’

‘And how old is your heir – young Harry of Monmouth is it not?’

‘He is ten years old.’

‘And bright for his age, I hear. I want to meet Harry of Monmouth. I’ll tell you what, cousin, he shall come to Court.’

‘I am overwhelmed by the honour,’ said Henry, trying to hide his uneasiness. ‘He is now at Oxford in the care of my half-brother Henry Beaufort. He is Chancellor of the University, as you know, and it is good for Harry to be under his tuition.’

‘He would learn more at Court, cousin.’

‘You are too kind to the boy, my lord. He is over young to be a courtier.’

‘I am determined to have him here. I hear he is something of a rogue.’

‘My lord, he is but a child.’

‘But able to give a good account of himself. I like the sound of young Harry of Monmouth. I will send word that he is to come to Court.’

It was clear that Richard was determined, and with a sinking heart Henry went to his father to tell him what had taken place between him and Richard.

Lancaster was at first disturbed by the news and then he said: ‘It may well be that Richard wishes to show friendship. He has made you a Duke. He relies on me and has come to trust me. I think he is perhaps merely showing favour to my grandson.’

‘In any case,’ replied Henry. ‘There is nothing we can do about it.’

Harry was not sorry to leave Oxford for the Court. The King received him with a show of affection. ‘My good uncle’s grandson,’ he said. ‘You are welcome, Harry.’

Harry responded with genuine pleasure. He liked this good-looking, sumptuously attired man with the delicate hands and the pink and white skin which coloured so pleasantly when he
showed excitement, with the glittering garments and delicate perfume which hung about him.

And he is the King, thought Harry; and from that moment he wanted to be a king himself.