The Hammer of the Scots

Chapter XIV THE DEATH OF THE KING

Wallace was dead. None should guess how relieved Edward was. Because a traitor had met his just deserts there should be little said. Edward feared the spirit of Wallace for he knew the Scots would continue to sing of him; he would still be their hero. But he was dead and one did not fear the dead – however death glorified them – as one feared the living.

He would arrange for a tournament. There should be rejoicing. They would have a feast of the Round Table and the great chivalry of the land would be present. Any of those who might remember the gory sight they had witnessed at Smithfield would forget it as they joined the merry party at Westminster.

True the head of the hero looked down on them. But all must know that he was a traitor. In Scotland it would be different. He wondered what people thought in Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling and Perth where parts of the once-great Wallace were shown.

But he would not think of it. There was reason for rejoicing. Marguerite was pregnant again. He thanked God for his Queen. She was always so gentle, so sympathetic, so understanding. Last year her beautiful sister, that Blanche on whom he had set his heart, had died and he had commanded that prayers be said in Canterbury for her soul, because she was the sister of his dearly loved consort. How glad he was that fate had been kind and given him Marguerite. He might have been mourning for his Queen now if he had married Blanche.

The tournament delighted all who took part in it and in the following May Marguerite gave birth to another child.

This time it was a girl, and Edward declared himself delighted. They had their two boys and now he wanted a girl, and his dear kind obliging Marguerite had given her to him.

‘I have a boon to ask,’ he said as he sat by her bedside. ‘Will you grant it, little Queen?’

‘It is granted before it is asked,’ she answered.

‘It might not please you.’

‘If it pleases you, my lord, I am sure it will please me.’

How docile she was! How eager to make him happy! Oh happy day which had sent him Marguerite!

He said: ‘Should you mind if we called this child Eleanor?’

She hesitated and he thought, Ah, I have asked too much.

Then she said, ‘Would it not sadden you to remember …?’

He took her hand and kissed it. ‘How could I be sad when I have the best woman in the world?’

A quick prayer to Eleanor. He had not meant it to slight her, only to comfort this living Queen. He would have prayers said for Eleanor’s soul and flowers laid at the foot of all the crosses.

He said, ‘I loved well three, all Eleanors … my mother, my daughter and my queen. God took them all but he sent me my Marguerite who has given me nothing but joy since I first saw her face.’

That was enough for Marguerite.

Little Eleanor was baptised in the royal chapel of Winchester for the Court was there at this time. After the christening the baby, lying in her state cradle covered with ermine and a counterpane of gold, was shown to the nobles.

Edward was delighted with her. Dearly he loved his daughters. They all enchanted him. His little sons were adorable but in his heart it was the girls he loved best.

That set him thinking of his eldest son. He wondered how he and Eleanor could have had such a boy.

That brought back the nagging thought that very soon he would have to do something about Edward.

In the solarium in her manor of Clare in Gloucester Joanna was sitting with her women while one of her minstrels played for her amusement. She seemed deep in thought as he strummed on his lute and sang those songs which were special favourites of his mistress – usually of love and passion.

As she watched the boy desultorily she was wondering how he had fared at her brother’s Court whither she had sent him to play some of the newest lays. Edward had liked them and so had his great friend Piers Gaveston. In fact, Gaveston only had to like something and Edward was sure to like it too. He was rather foolish about that young man and Gaveston knew it. He was continually asking favours and being indulged.

The King did not like it and had spoken to her about it. Young Edward simply did not care. He himself would be King one day and Gaveston was constantly reminding him of it.

She shrugged her shoulders. Edward would be very different from his father. She was sure he would not want always to be riding off on these boring wars. Why could not a man be allowed to enjoy life? Why must they always be thinking of this conquest and that?

It was due to her father’s war that Ralph was away at this time. She was resentful, thinking of her handsome husband far away in the north, possibly in Scotland. Edward had said that if he was given the glories of knighthood he must honour them. She would join him, for she could not bear to be so long away from him. It was not right that they should be apart. She would be with him now but he had left in such haste on the King’s business and she had been rather surprised during the last few days by the lethargy which seemed to have come over her. She wanted to be with Ralph, God knew, but the thought of the journey appalled her. That was strange, for previously she had thought nothing of journeys. She would have gone to the Holy Land with her husband – as women had before – if the need had arisen. Yet for the last few days this tiredness had beset her.

Perhaps she was growing old at last. She was thirty-five. She was no longer very young. She had been reminded of that last year when her eldest daughter Eleanor had been married to Hugh le Despenser. Eleanor was only thirteen years old it was true, but to have a marriageable daughter made her feel she was really getting old.

It was a sweet song the minstrel was singing. It took her back over the years. She had first heard it when she had been Gilbert’s wife. She was smiling. How enamoured he had been of her, that old man! There had been nothing he would not do for her, and how glad she had been when he had gone and there was Ralph …

‘We shall marry,’ she murmured. ‘I care not what my father should say …’

She was back in the past … the excitement of those days … her determination to defy the King … the first moments of passion with the man she had wanted so fiercely … Blissful, invigorating, stimulating, entrancing … all she had ever dreamed of.

‘Ralph,’ she whispered, ‘you should be here now … You should have defied him … refused to leave me …’

One of the women leaned towards her. ‘You spoke, my lady?’

She did not hear. She did not see the woman. She had slipped forward in her chair, for the scene about her had faded suddenly and she was descending into darkness.

‘My lady is ill,’ said the attendant, looking fearfully at the minstrels.

They dropped their lutes and ran to her. They lifted her head and looked into her strangely remote face.

One of the minstrels said in an awed voice, ‘My lady is dead.’

The King could not believe it. He was sick with grief. Joanna, his beautiful daughter … dead! But she was so full of life, the most lively of all his daughters. One never thought of death with Joanna.

He was so old; she was so young. His own daughter. And she had died as her sister Eleanor had died. They were too young to die. Some of the children had died and their deaths had not been unexpected. They had ailed from birth. But Joanna …

He was tired and weary and very, very sad.

He must write to the Bishop of London and tell him that his dear daughter Joanna had departed to God. There must be private masses and orisons for the soul of his daughter. He felt that Joanna would need some intercession in Heaven, for he suspected that she was scarcely free from sin. Nor had she been given the time to repent before she was taken.

He sent letters to every prelate in the kingdom.

‘Pray, pray,’ he commanded, ‘pray for my daughter Joanna.’

He roused himself from his grief. He felt sick and ill. He kept thinking how unnatural it was that Joanna should be dead and he live on.

It could not be long, could it, before he was called?

He looked into the future. Scotland was yet to be won. Who would have thought it would take so long? But Wallace was dead now. Could he complete the conquest before he died? And if he did could young Edward hold it? Oh God, why did You give me such a son? You gave me good daughters and my son … my eldest son – the only one of Eleanor’s to live – is unfit to wear the crown.

He must speak with him. He must imbue in him a sense of duty. Unworthy kings were a danger to themselves and the nation. Remember, oh remember my grandfather John. What misery he brought to England … and himself! And my father – my beloved father – he had not the gifts that make a king!

He himself had them. It would be false to deny it. He had conquered Wales; he had done as well as was possible in France. He would not be afraid to stand beside his ancestors. Great William, Henry the First and Second. No, he would be counted with them.

Death haunted him. Who could say when it would come? It came unexpectedly to some, to his dear daughter Joanna for instance; and to an old man such as himself the call was overdue.

He sent for Edward.

The boy stood before him. Boy! He was a man. It was twenty-two years ago that he had been born in Caernarvon and he had had such bright hopes for him. He was handsome – and very like his father in his youth – the same long limbs, the same flaxen hair, the upright carriage. But what was it he lacked? That virility which had been his father’s, that essential masculinity. There was an almost feminine quality about Edward. It shocked his father deeply. Men would not respect him; they would not follow him into battle.

Where to begin? How to explain kingship to such a creature? He had told him often of the need to please his subjects, that he must be just yet stern. He himself had been harsh at times. He had inflicted severe punishment on those who had offended him. Necessary, he had always told himself. A king must be respected through fear.

Young Edward looked elegant. The King wondered whether his clothes had been designed by Piers Gaveston. His long loose coat was of deep blue caught at the neck with a magnificent sapphire brooch. His long wide sleeves trailed gracefully and his shoes had a longer peak than was normally worn. His beautiful fair hair was held back by fillets of gold set with more sapphires.

Pretty as a girl! thought the King distastefully.

‘Edward,’ he said, ‘I would have speech with you. Joanna’s death has shocked me deeply.’

‘As it has us all.’ The Prince spoke with feeling. Joanna had been his favourite sister and she had been inclined to laugh at his exploits as he had at hers.

‘Death comes swiftly in some cases and lingers in others. But in due course it will come to us all. I want you to be ready, Edward.’

He began to talk of the need to keep the Welsh under control. They could never feel really safe there. They must always be sure that their defences were intact.

Scotland was of course the main concern.

‘But Wallace is dead now,’ said the Prince. ‘He can never worry us again.’

‘Wallace lives on in the people’s memories. They are making songs about him now. He has become a legend. Beware of legends. I shall soon be leaving for the north. I must safeguard what I have won. I don’t trust the Scots. Those who have sworn fealty could turn against us.’

A slim white hand adorned with jewels touched the Prince’s lips as he stifled a yawn. He had heard it all before. When the old man had gone there would not be all this preoccupation with the Scots. Piers and he talked about it often. When the old man was gone …

The voice droned on. The need to do this and that. The Prince was not listening and when the King paused he said: ‘I have a request to make to you, my lord.’

The King opened his eyes wider. ‘What request is this?’

‘Ever since you put Piers Gaveston in the household we have become close friends.’

‘I know that well and perhaps the friendship has become too firm.’

‘You have always said that one cannot have too many friends, my lord.’

‘If they are good and loyal one cannot of course.’

‘Piers is good and loyal. He lives for me, Father. All he thinks of is my comfort. I want to reward him.’

‘He has his reward. He has royal patronage. He has lived in the royal household. What more could a man ask?’

‘I should like to show my appreciation and there is one thing he greatly desires. I have promised I will do my best to get it for him.’

‘And what is this?’

‘Ponthieu.’

‘Ponthieu! What do you mean? Piers Gaveston wants Ponthieu!’

‘I have promised him that I will get it for him. Dear Father, do not disappoint me.’

‘Disappoint you! I tell you this, I know little but disappointment from you. Ponthieu! Your mother’s inheritance to go to this … this … adventurer!’

‘My lord, pray do not talk of Piers in this way.’

‘I will remind you, sir, that I will speak of my subjects as I will. No! No! No! Gaveston shall never have Ponthieu while I live. And let me tell you this, I like not this man. I have heard that he has a strong and growing hold over you. That it is spoken of in whispers and disgraces our royal name. No, sir. Go and tell him no! And that I regard his pretensions as insolent. He had better take care. As for you, you will leave with me for Scotland, and that will be very soon, I promise you. I am going to take you away from your fancy companions. I am going to make a man of you.’

The Prince was pale with fear and anger, but he knew his father’s rages – though rare – could be terrible. He knew too that he must take his leave before the full fury of the King burst upon him.

When he had gone Edward sank into his chair. He felt sick with rage and apprehension.

What can I do with him? he asked himself. Why did he grow up like this. My son … and Eleanor’s. Everything I gave him. The best tutors … the best governors! He has been schooled in war. If he were foolish and without talent it would be understandable. But he is not. He could have been clever. He could have been a worthy king …

And now …

Action was needed.

Piers Gaveston should be banished without delay. That friendship must be severed; and he would get an undertaking from the adventurer – and from the Prince – that they should never meet again without his consent.

Edward was marching up to Scotland accompanied by a sullen Prince. Gaveston had been banished and the Prince was telling himself that he would never forgive his father for robbing him of the one he loved the best in the world. There was one comfort for the Prince. The old man was looking more sick every day. He could not last much longer. He was not in a fit state to come marching north. Why couldn’t he leave these matters to his generals?

The King was too preoccupied to notice his son’s depression.

A new danger had arisen in Scotland.

Robert the Bruce, grandson of the claimant, the Earl of Carrick, who for some years had been on terms of friendship with Edward, had left the English Court and gone to Scotland. He had at one time been one of Edward’s partisans and Edward had quickly become aware of the man’s talents.

Now he was in Scotland and for what purpose Edward had guessed. He had often wondered what would happen to Scotland when his son was King and he had believed that many of the Scots who feigned friendship with England now, would turn when a strong king was replaced by a weak one.

So Bruce was in Scotland. What did it mean? He was soon to learn. Bruce had gone to Scone where he had been crowned King of Scotland by the Bishop of St Andrews.

It was clear to Edward that Bruce had been waiting for his death believing that it would be easier to defeat Edward the Son than Edward the Father, which was, he feared, a wise conclusion. He had, however, decided to wait no longer.

Bruce would have seen Wallace’s head rotting on London Bridge. ‘By God,’ said Edward. ‘I’m not dead yet and before I go I’ll have that traitor’s head beside Wallace’s.’

He did not like these heroes. Wallace had been one. He believed Bruce would be another.

‘Oh God, give me strength,’ he prayed. ‘Let me finish this task before I go.’

But God did not listen. Each day he grew weaker. He hated to admit it, but riding exhausted him and when he could only travel four miles a day he had to stop pretending and to accept the litter which those about him advised him to use.

They came to rest at Burgh-on-Sands and all knew – and even the King must agree – that he could go no farther.

He ordered that he should have a room from which he could see the Solway Firth. He knew he would never leave this bed. He would die in England in sight of that water which separated England from Scotland.

The news would reach the Scots that he was on his deathbed. That would fill them with rejoicing. Edward would be glad too. Oh, God preserve England with my son Edward as her King.

His dear Queen would mourn him; so would his daughters. There were some who loved him.

But he must think of the future. There was little time left. He had seen the sun rise but it might well be that he would not see it set.

He sent for his son. His sight was failing a little. The priest should come to him; but he had his duty first.

‘Edward, my son …’

‘Father.’

He saw him through a haze – handsome, tall. Such a fine king he could have made. Where did we go wrong? Edward asked himself. Where, oh where?

‘Edward,’ he said, ‘take care of your little half-brothers and sister.’

‘I will, Father.’

‘When I am gone I want you to send a party of knights to the Holy Land. There is much wrong I have done in my life …’ His voice trailed off. He thought he was looking up at London Bridge and seeing Wallace’s head … or was it Llewellyn’s or Davydd’s? He had been harsh in battle. He had slaughtered many. He had commanded that his enemies be hung, drawn and quartered as Wallace had been. An example to others, he had said. Others had been tied to the tails of horses and dragged to the gallows. The deaths of brave men had made spectacles for the people. He had had a cage built for the Countess of Buchan, who had worked against him and had the ill fortune to be captured, and condemned her to remain there like a wild beast until he gave the order for her release, which he had never given.

These things he remembered as he lay on his bed. They were enemies of England and he had lived for England. But he must send those knights to the Holy Land to please God, that He might forgive him his sins.

‘My heart shall be taken from my body and the knights must carry it with them.’

‘Yes, Father,’ said Edward dutifully. ‘It shall be done.’

‘Pursue the Scottish war, Edward. Carry on where I have left off. God sees fit to take me before I have finished my task. He has left it to you. Take my bones with you into battle. Always carry them before the army when it marches. I shall be there. The Scots will know that my bones are with my army and that will strike terror into their hearts.’

‘It shall be done,’ said Edward.

He was thinking, A few days and I shall be King. Piers, my Gaveston, my first act will be to bring you to me.

As though reading his thoughts the King said, ‘Never recall Gaveston without the consent of the nation.’

Edward did not answer. One must not make promises to a dying man.

The King did not notice. The light was fading fast.

He was murmuring something. Edward bent close to listen.

‘Let my bones be placed in a hammock … carry them before the army … Let the Scots know I am there … and I will lead my army to victory.’

That night the end came. Edward the First was dead and the reign of the second Edward had begun.