He had come far since the days when King John had sent him on a mission to Falaise to put out the eyes of Prince Arthur and castrate him. He had been a different man then. Rashly he had acted and out of emotion – carelessly, recklessly risking his life. Yet it was an act which, cynical statesman that he had become, he never regretted. If he had carried out John’s orders, he had said at the time, he would never after have slept peacefully in his bed. The same applied now.
Hubert knew that the murmurings around him were growing. It was said that although he had been a wise counsellor to the King he had feathered his own nest in doing so. And why not? Did they blame birds for making good nests for their young?
Two events had recently occurred which had set people’s tongues wagging. William Earl of Arundel had recently died and Hubert had been made guardian of his young heir. The death of Arundel had been shortly followed by that of Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk and his son and heir had been put in Hubert’s charge.
As these two young men were the heirs to considerable fortunes and were of the highest families in the land, Hubert’s wealth and above all his power was largely increased by his handling of their affairs; moreover he could have a great effect upon their future by leading them in the direction he wanted them to go.
No wonder it was being said: ‘Hubert de Burgh is in fact the ruler of England.’
He must be watchful and he would be particularly careful of Peter des Roches. Stephen Langton had brought about a reconciliation between them but it was an uneasy one.
When he was in the King’s presence he told him at once that the King of France was ignoring his demands for the restoration of Normandy and moreover had brought in the Count of Lusignan and Henry’s mother to work with him.
Henry was amazed. ‘My own mother!’ he cried. ‘How could she possibly work against me!’
‘The King of France would have made special concessions and the Count, I doubt not, though it would be more gainful to work for Louis. And of course there is the irksome matter of your mother’s dowry.’
‘Perhaps we should send it,’ suggested Henry.
‘My lord, we must not show weakness. There is only one thing we can do. We must prepare for war.’
Henry frowned. ‘I want above all things to keep the country peaceful.’
‘So do all those who wish you well, my lord, but there are times when a display of strength is necessary and unless you are going to allow the French to take everything – God knows there is little left to us – we cannot stand aside. If you do, it will be said that you are another such as your father.’
‘Let us prepare for war,’ said Henry firmly.
It was easy to plan but not so easy to carry out. Extra taxes must be raised. Hubert suggested that one fifteenth part of all movable possessions should be demanded from both the clergy and the laity, and as was to be expected this aroused murmuring throughout the land and was responsible for a wave of unpopularity for the King. It was demanded that Henry confirm the charter which his father had been forced to sign at Runnymede. This he did, as he pointed out, of his own motion and good will.
While these preparations were going on Eleanor was married to William Marshal, who was immediately appointed Justiciar of that turbulent country Ireland which meant that his stay there could be a lengthy one. The married pair left each other happily – William going off on his duties and Eleanor left behind to devote herself to the business of growing up.
So there she was back in the nursery with Isabella and being married made no difference to her way of life.
Joan was delighted for her and said that she had heard that William Marshal was a good man, and by the time he came back from Ireland perhaps Eleanor would be ready to live with him.
Joan herself returned rather sadly to Scotland and her brother Richard remained at court, for as Hubert had pointed out, he was now getting too old to be ignored.
As he had reached his sixteenth birthday Henry gave him his knight’s sword and invested him with the Earldom of Cornwall and as the plan was to send him to France to lead the expedition under the care of the old Earl of Salisbury, he was also given the title of Count of Poitou.
The young Earl, eager to prove himself, set out with great enthusiasm. His co-commander, William Longespée or Longsword as he was more generally known, was Richard’s uncle, for Longsword was a natural son of Henry II by Rosamund Clifford. He had acquired great honours – for Henry II had genuinely loved Rosamund Clifford and had done everything possible for her sons – and Longsword had married the Countess of Salisbury and through this marriage he attained his earldom. His career had not been exactly glorious for he had been a close companion of his half-brother John and, reckoned to be one of his most evil counsellors, he had been involved in many acts of cruelty for which he showed a certain relish. One of the chief of these was the affair of Geoffrey of Norwich, a very able cleric who withdrew from his office when John was excommunicated. John’s retort was to send Salisbury to seize Geoffrey. It was true he did this on John’s command but all said at the time it was one from which any humane man would have shrunk. The unfortunate Geoffrey was put in prison in Bristol where a heavy lead cope was placed upon him and he was left to die in agony.
Longsword, however, went from strength to strength and he supported John against the Barons, but changed sides when it seemed that Louis of France had come to stay. When John died Louis – whose ally he now was – sent Longsword to Hubert de Burgh to attempt to persuade him to relinquish Dover Castle. Hubert, despising him for his lack of loyalty to his nephew, the young King, berated him soundly: something Longsword was not going to forget. However, as soon as the French had left the country, Longsword immediately joined the King, declaring that he would win forgiveness for his defection by going on a crusade to whichever spot the Legate should see fit to send him.
He had proved himself to be a good soldier – though a ruthless man capable of great cruelty – and he seemed to Hubert a good choice to accompany the inexperienced young Earl of Cornwall on his first military venture.
Richard showed the makings of a good commander and his enthusiasm allied to the experience of the old Earl proved a match for Louis whose dreams of conquering Gascony had to be temporarily abandoned because Bordeaux refused to surrender to the French and as a result Gascony was saved for the English and Louis had to think again.
Leaving Richard behind, Longsword set sail for home. It was now autumn and very rough seas were encountered. There came a time when death seemed inevitable. The vessel was tossed on the heavy seas as though it were made of parchment and when all the goods on board were flung overboard, every man believed that his last moment had come.
Longsword clinging to the rail was haunted by all the evil deeds of a lifetime and he prayed aloud to the Virgin to save him, reminding her that ever since the day he had been knighted he had never failed to set a light to burn before her altar.
Then what Longsword believed to be a miracle happened. He and the sailors swore they saw a figure at the masthead. It was a beautiful woman whom they were convinced was the Virgin Mary. She had come at this hour of need, Longsword thought, to thank him for all those lighted candles.
From that moment the ship, though listing badly and at the mercy of the wind, began to drift. They came to an island and scrambled ashore.
‘Saved,’ cried William Longsword, ‘by the Blessed Virgin.’
Hubert told the King that the news was good. They had shown the King of France that they would defend their rights. The days of John were over. A new King was on the throne and – let Louis remember – he had wise men to counsel him.