Henry was wishing that all lessons were as entertaining as the marriages and excommunication of the King of France had proved to be.
There had been great consternation when the news arrived of Queen Isabella’s marriage to Hugh de Lusignan. Both the Archbishop and Hubert were angry. That the marriage between Joan and Hugh had been cursorily set aside might not in the circumstances be such a bad thing because now the country was settled, she might prove a good bargaining counter and a better match be found for her than with a French count.
As for Isabella, she was of no great interest to them; and secretly they were glad to be without her. ‘A troublemaker I am sure,’ Hubert confided to the Archbishop. ‘And if she chooses to return to her native land the better. But the demand of her dowry was sheer insolence and something which she would quickly understand was considered so in England.’
Henry was summoned and informed of what had happened.
‘So my mother has a new husband,’ said Henry. ‘I wish her joy of him. I fear she had little with my father.’
‘It is unseemly,’ replied the Archbishop, ‘that the Queen taking her daughter to the husband chosen for her, should marry him herself.’
‘I think my mother and my father often acted in an unseemly manner,’ observed Henry gravely, ‘so we must not be surprised if she continues to do so.’
‘When her unseemly behaviour concerns this country,’ said the Archbishop, ‘we shall express not only surprise but our objections.’
Making him feel like a child was typical of the Archbishop, thought Henry. Hubert would have put it differently.
‘We shall send at once asking for the return of the Princess,’ said Stephen Langton, ‘and perhaps, Sire, you will inform your mother that she will certainly receive no dowry from you.’
Henry was sorry. He would have liked to wish his mother happiness and would willingly have sent her a dowry if he had been allowed to do so. He sighed. He was of course very young and not really a king since he always had to do what he was told. But it would be different one day.
The Archbishop explained to him that the country was settling down and thanks to the Church and the good will of Pope Honorius (another one since Celestine and Innocent who had played their part in the drama of the King of France and his marriages) the high offices in England were now being taken from those foreigners on whom John had bestowed them and were being returned to Englishmen. All the castles which had previously belonged to the King and taken from him by rebellious barons, were now being returned to the crown.
‘It is necessary,’ said the Archbishop, ‘that you should visit these castles throughout the realm and receive them into your hands. It will be a good opportunity for you to meet your subjects and to receive the oath of allegiance from those who were not present at the time of the coronation. Hubert de Burgh will discuss this with you and tell you what is expected of you. You must be firm, resolute and never forget your kingly dignity. You are hampered by your lack of years.’ The Archbishop looked stern, as though this was due to some lack of zeal on Henry’s part. ‘But that is a fault which can be remedied. But remember, you must show no levity. The barons must realise that although you are so young, you intend to rule.’
‘I shall do my best,’ answered Henry.
‘Hubert de Burgh will discuss the journey with you; and it would be well that it is undertaken without too much delay.’
So a day or so after the coronation, Henry set out on his journey northwards.
The ceremonies took place – one very like another. The young King with the strong Hubert de Burgh beside him rode from castle to castle, accepting the keys and the oaths of allegiance.
‘When we reach York,’ Hubert told him, ‘there will take place the most important meeting of them all.’
Henry knew he was referring to the encounter with Alexander of Scotland. Hubert had explained: ‘It is very important that we stop these perpetual wars with Scotland, and I am hoping we shall be able to make some sort of peace.’
Henry was enjoying this trip. He had never felt so much a king and he supposed it was due to the fact that he was growing up. The older he grew the more homage he could expect; and he was waiting for the day when he need not take his orders from the men who surrounded him. It would be interesting, too, to meet another young King, although he discovered that Alexander was old by his standards, being twenty-two years of age and having reigned for several years.
The meeting was to take place in York, a city of which any king could be justly proud. Henry was met at the Micklegate by the Archbishop of York and the leading dignitaries of the city, and passing under the Roman arch which supported the turrets was escorted into the castle which was said to have been built by his famous ancestor, William the Conqueror.
The meeting of the two kings took place within the great hall of the castle where Henry felt somewhat at a loss on account of his youth; Alexander seemed very mature, having been King of Scotland for seven years; he was shrewd, Hubert had said, and like all good rulers, ever alert for the advantage of his country. Of small stature, with reddish hair and light eyes, he had a foxy look which suggested a certain cunning.
Henry knew that when England had been figuratively on her knees through the bad rule of his father and the French had been on English soil, Alexander had taken advantage of the situation by attacking in the north and in the circumstances naturally achieving some success.
‘It was a good opportunity for him,’ Hubert had pointed out, ‘and one which such a shrewd ruler would take advantage of.’
However when the French had been defeated and driven out Alexander had been forced to retreat behind the Border; and it was in the hope of bringing about a permanent peace that this meeting was taking place.
Hubert with other important barons sat with the Scottish King and some of his supporters. Henry was there in a chair of state but had been made to realise that he was, though a figurehead, a mere observer.
‘It is important,’ Hubert had told him, ‘that you should learn how these conferences are conducted. Listen to discussion, watch parry and thrust, and see how both sides juggle for advantage.’
So Henry listened, thinking what a long time must elapse before he was twenty-two years of age and put his views before men like Hubert de Burgh and was listened to with respect.
Hubert pointed out that a truce would be advantageous to both sides, for the English were eager to preserve the order they were beginning to experience after the lawlessness of John’s reign and Alexander admitted that he would be pleased to have peace on the Border in order that he might divert his energies towards settling quarrels among his own chieftains. But he would expect concessions.