Peter des Roches came gleefully to the King and told him that now he himself had acknowledged the villainies of Hubert de Burgh others were joining with him and there was a demand throughout the country that he be brought to trial.
Henry was unsure but had no wish to appear so. He had only wanted to dismiss Hubert and had had no intention that matters should go so far. But it was difficult to hold back now that Peter des Roches had set the case against Hubert in motion, so he agreed that a date should be fixed when Hubert be brought to trial to answer charges against him.
Hubert could not believe what was happening. So often he had been aware of enemies but he had so far managed to get the better of them.
His wife was very anxious and he tried to soothe her.
‘Why,’ he told her, ‘I knew that as soon as the Bishop of Winchester returned to the country there would be trouble. It is he who is making an effort to destroy me.’
‘He is more powerful since his return,’ replied Margaret. ‘And now he is ever with the King.’
‘Henry will tire of him.’
‘I hope so, before it is too late.’
‘I should never have advised him against going to France,’ said Hubert sadly. ‘I should have flattered him and told him his judgment was wise. He blames me for the failure of that expedition. How can one deal with a man who is headstrong, acts unwisely and then blames those who tried to advise him against such conduct?’
‘He blames himself in secret, Hubert,’ said Margaret, ‘but refuses to see it. He is angry with you for knowing this.’
‘He has not yet grown up.’
‘It is time he did. He is of an age now to govern and how can he govern a kingdom if he cannot govern himself?’
‘What we have to consider is your position. Dismissed from your post, your lands and castles taken from you, these ridiculous charges … What will the outcome be?’
It was while they were talking that his friend Ranulf de Brito came to him in great haste to warn him that he was going to be brought to trial and preparations were going ahead to take him prisoner.
‘You know what the verdict will be,’ said Ranulf.
‘It is already decided that I am guilty,’ answered Hubert.
‘God knows what they will do. Hubert, they will brand you traitor.’
‘I cannot believe the King will allow it.’
‘The King sways this way and that. He is so anxious that none shall believe he is unsure of himself. I would not put my trust in the King.’
‘You must go from here,’ said Margaret. ‘You must not be here when they come to take you.’
‘Where?’ said Hubert. ‘I have begun to think that there is no way out.’
‘There must be a way out,’ said Margaret. ‘Think of the dangers you have faced throughout your life – and you have always defeated your enemies.’
‘Yes,’ said Hubert. He thought then of how he had defied King John over Prince Arthur. Then it would have been understandable if John had destroyed him; but he had come through that dangerous situation. But now he was fighting a different battle. He had done nothing but serve his King, and his enemies were calling for his blood while the young King who had stood amicably beside him had suddenly changed sides.
Margaret said: ‘You must not stay here. They will be here soon to take you.’
‘There is nowhere else to go, lest it was sanctuary.’
‘Sanctuary! That is the answer,’ cried Margaret. ‘You must go into sanctuary. None would dare harm you there and in time the King will come to his senses and see that the traitors are those who now call for your blood.’
‘It is the answer, my lord,’ agreed Ranulf. ‘You must leave at once. Any delay could be dangerous.’
‘I see that you are right,’ said Hubert.
‘Merton Priory is the nearest,’ added Margaret. ‘You must go there.’
Within half an hour Hubert was on his way.
When the King was told that Hubert was taking refuge in Merton Priory he was angry. He had heard then that he was about to be arrested and was either guilty or he did not trust the King’s justice – Henry preferred to believe that he was guilty.
‘He shall see that it is useless to attempt to hide from justice,’ he declared; and he pondered as to what he could best do.
The Londoners had hated Hubert since the riots when he had ordered their leader and his nephew to be hanged and had caused to be mutilated those who had been taken prisoner. The dead might have been forgotten, but there were so many men living minus a limb or their ears that the grievance was kept alive.
Henry sent out a proclamation.
Hubert de Burgh, traitor to the country, was hiding in Merton Priory. Londoners who had long been aware of his perfidy and had good reason to remember his villainy should take him from his refuge and bring him to the courts.
The Londoners were on the march to Merton.
There was one among them – a merchant of deeply religious leanings who raised his voice at this order and asked whether it was fitting to violate a sanctuary. The law of the Church was that any man – however wicked – could find refuge, if only temporarily, in a holy place. He knew that the King had ordered this but the King and the Church were not always in agreement and they must remember that the King was young and the Church was old.
‘What then?’ cried the crowd. ‘Tell us what then.’
The merchant was a respected man among them known for his pious ways and just dealing, and considering this the mob was halted in its madness to get at Hubert.
‘The Bishop of Winchester is lodged nearby,’ said the merchant. ‘We could ask him if it is fitting for us to take the Justiciar from a sanctuary when it is the command of the King.’
‘To the Bishop,’ cried the crowd; and instead of going to Merton they made their way to the Bishop’s lodging.
Peter des Roches was amazed to find them gathered at his gate.
He addressed them from a window.
‘What would you have of me, good people?’ he asked.
The merchant was the spokesman. ‘My lord Bishop, we have had a command from the King to go to Merton and take Hubert de Burgh that he may be brought to justice. Should we obey the King?’
‘Are you good subjects?’ replied Peter. ‘If you are you know full well that you should obey your King.’
‘My lord Bishop, he is in holy sanctuary.’
Peter des Roches hesitated. The merchant was a moderate man, that much was certain. Not so those who gathered about him. There was the blood lust in their eyes. They hated Hubert. They were bent on revenge. They blamed Hubert for the hanging of Constantine and the mutilation of so many of the citizens and they wanted a scapegoat. Hubert was known to be severe because he believed that it was the only way to keep law and order in the country.
The fate of Hubert, as he saw it, could rest on the next few seconds. If he came to court, he might well prove himself guiltless. After all he had governed the country well. Peter des Roches knew that. But if this mob got at him, he would never have a chance to do anything. In their present mood they would tear him apart.
‘We would ask your guidance, as a man of Holy Church,’ went on the merchant.
Peter made his decision. This was an easy way of getting rid of Hubert – once and for all.
‘The King has given you an order. You must obey your King.’
There was a shout from the mob.
‘To Merton,’ they cried. ‘The blood of Hubert de Burgh.’
The Earl of Chester had seen the mob marching to the Bishop’s house and had heard their bloodthirsty shouts.