The Heart of the Lion Page 5

  He was now thinking almost entirely of his crusade. His great desire was to raise money. He began by selling crown lands, which was legitimate enough, but when large sums of money were paid into the royal coffers for some post which should have gone to a more worthy applicant the practice was far from admirable. He began to think up wild schemes to raise money. It was not difficult to find men who were eager to accompany him; money was the great concern. But there were some who could not go; he would command them to join his party and then allow them to avoid the obligation by the payment of a huge fine. Nothing was too devious if it added to the funds; and the King who was honest enough in other matters grew more and more unscrupulous in his mad passion to raise enough money that there might be no more delay.

  John was delighted to see Richard’s determination and did his best to foster it. With Richard out of the way he would be a very important figure. He was the heir to the throne, although people had begun to talk of Arthur of Brittany, and some said that Arthur as the son of an elder brother had more claim than John who was only a younger son of the late King. But he did not think of Arthur as a serious threat. He was only a child and was far away in Brittany. If Richard were killed in his Holy War, John was the one the people would look to.

  So Richard must be persuaded to go on his crusade. Not that he needed persuading. John laughed at the thought.

  His mother was uneasy and well she might be.

  She talked to Richard about his marriage. At thirty-two and a crowned king he could delay no more. ‘You say,’ she said, ‘that you have a great fancy for Berengaria.’

  ‘All in good time,’ he said.

  She sighed. She did not think he would ever have a great fancy for any woman. He was more excited at the prospect of joining up with the King of France than his marriage.

  ‘Richard, you must marry soon.’

  ‘As soon as I am free from Alice.’

  ‘But what are you doing about freeing yourself from Alice? You have no need to consider her. She is dishonoured. No one could blame you for breaking your betrothal to her.’

  ‘Remember she is Philip’s sister.’

  ‘As if I could forget that! But Philip’s sister or not she has been your father’s mistress and kept from you for years that he might enjoy her. It’s a preposterous situation and one at which none would blame you for snapping your fingers.’

  ‘You speak truth, Mother. I have long loved Berengaria, that elegant girl. Go to Navarre and let her be put in your care. I shall start off on my crusade and as soon as I have rid myself of Alice I will send for Berengaria.’

  The prospect of making such a journey lifted Eleanor’s spirits. Although she was now an old woman the thought of the crusade excited her. She longed to be young again so that she could accompany her son into the Holy Land as she had once accompanied her husband Louis of France. What a time that had been! Her senses still tingled at the memory.

  She could not make such a journey again, but she would enjoy the visit to Navarre. It would be a mission for her; and once Berengaria was in her care Richard would be obliged to marry her. He had every excuse for declining Alice’s hand and Philip must be made to accept this.

  Well then, Richard would set out on his campaign; she, Eleanor, would go to Navarre; and Alice must be returned to her brother’s court, soiled – no longer marriageable to royalty. Perhaps Philip would find some nobleman ready to take her off his hands for the privilege of marrying the King’s sister.

  As for John, she believed he was not actively ambitious. He would like to be King no doubt, but he would not want to fight for a crown. He really preferred drinking, gaming and the company of women. He could occupy himself in Ireland and with his vast estates. John would have enough to keep him busy.

  So with the thought of a mission of her own Eleanor was less opposed to Richard’s departure.

  Meanwhile Richard chafed against delay. The sale of posts throughout the country had naturally displeased some people; but not many were ready to raise their voices against a campaign to the Holy Land. Superstition was rife and there was a fear that to attempt to oppose the King’s desire to free Christendom from the Infidel might offend God.

  People began to see or imagine they saw indications of Divine approval. At Dunstable it was said that a white banner appeared in the sky; someone else saw a crucifix there. Perhaps all that was needed was imagination and a certain cloud formation but people began assembling in market squares and announcing their intention to accompany the King on his crusade.

  This was gratifying to Richard but there were delays. He chafed against them but he was a king and there was his mother to remind him of this. First the harvest had been disappointing, so much so that in some areas there was a threat of famine. Baldwin was critical of the King and did not hesitate to say so. Richard’s half-brother Geoffrey joined Baldwin against him, much to the fury of Eleanor who could never forget that Geoffrey was her husband’s illegitimate son.

  Already there had arisen the recurring conflict between Church and State.

  ‘Sometimes,’ cried Richard, ‘I think they are determined to do all they can to stop my leaving. They never will.’

  But in spite of his determination it was necessary to remain and give time and thought to this trouble in the Church.

  The outcome was that he and Geoffrey patched up their quarrel and Geoffrey paid him three thousand pounds from his revenues to help finance the crusade, so it was not entirely wasted after all from Richard’s point of view.

  By December he was able to leave for Normandy on his way to see the King of France to make their final preparations.

  It was January before the two Kings met at Gué St Rémi. It was an emotional meeting. Once there had been great amity between them. That had been at the time when Richard was at odds with his father and had been so angry and wounded because Henry had wanted to set him aside for the sake of John. Philip had been there to comfort him. He had sworn allegiance to Philip; he had been his constant companion; hunted with him, talked with him and shared his bed. There could be no greater intimacy and everyone had marvelled at the friendship between the King of France and the son of the King of England, none more than Henry the King of England who had been considerably discountenanced by it.

  They had been happy days when they had been together, the more exciting perhaps because each had known they could not go on and were a little uncertain how deep their feelings for each other went.

  Philip must ask himself: How much of this friendship is love for me, how much hatred of his father? How much the desire for my company, how much the knowledge that I more than anyone can help him make a stand against his father?

  And Richard: This love for me, how much friendship is there in it, how much the need to flout my father, to mock him by keeping his son at his court?

  How eager was the King of France to outwit the King of England? How could they be sure of each other? Yet it was there, the love which had flared up between them.

  As King of England Richard could now meet Philip as an equal on one ground, but he still owed him allegiance as the Duke of Normandy.

  Philip embraced Richard. ‘Welcome, my brother. It does my heart good to see you.’

  Richard was less fulsome but the coldness had left his eyes and they glowed with an unusual warmth.

  ‘So you are now King of England. Our fears were groundless.’

  All noted how the King of France would have no ceremony with the King of England. He slipped his arm through his and they walked together. It was said: They will live in amity as they did before. This augurs well for the crusade.

  Philip took Richard into his camp that they might talk intimately together. Philip had aged a little. He was ten years younger than Richard but often appeared to be the more mature. He was more of a realist, completely lacking Richard’s idealism.

  How like the old days it was! Philip lying back on his bunk, his head supported on his folded arms and Richard seated before him.
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br />   ‘You are as handsome as you ever were,’ said Philip. ‘Though a little drawn. Are you in good health, my friend?’

  ‘I have had attacks of the quartan fever.’

  ‘So you still suffer from that malady? How do you think you will fare in the hot climate?’

  ‘That I shall discover.’

  ‘Richard, do you think your health will permit you to go?’

  Richard laughed aloud. ‘Nothing will prevent me.’

  ‘Ah indeed, it seems strange to talk of weakness to you. You were ever the one who rode the fastest, played the most skilful game. You should have taken greater care of your health, for it is sheer carelessness which has made you a victim of this fever.’

  ‘A soldier cannot always sleep in a warm dry bed, brother.’

  ‘Nay, alas. Ah, but you are as strong as ever, I doubt not. You will overcome this fever . . . Do you realise that a dream of our youth is about to come true? Remember, Richard, how we would lie in my bed and plan our journey to the Holy Land . . . together. It had to be together. Otherwise it would have lost its pleasure for us both.’

  ‘I remember it well. I was always determined that it should come about.’

  ‘And now you have a kingdom to govern!’

  ‘You also.’

  ‘Two Kings who will leave their kingdoms for a dream! Together we must go, for if we did not . . .’ Philip laughed slyly . . . ‘How could the King of England go if the King of France did not go also?’

  ‘Indeed! How could the King of France leave his kingdom if the King of England did not also leave his?’

  ‘’Tis a fact, Richard, that these two so fear the other that they could not know what one would be about during the other’s absence. What a chance for the warlike fellow to take certain French castles he covets.’

  ‘And it has always been a whim of the kings of France to take Normandy from the Normans.’

  ‘Some of my ancestors believe it should never have been given to your ancestor Old Rollo. What a marauding pirate he was! He was not content with his lands of the North, he had to take a part of France as well. And you, my friend, are descended from those pirates. What of that?’

  ‘I am proud to remember it.’

  ‘As proud as I am doubtless of Charlemagne. I’ll tell you this, Richard, that one day when I sat gnawing a little green twig one of my barons told another that he would give him his best horse if he could know what the King was thinking. One over bold asked me and I answered him “I am thinking of whether God will grant unto me or one of my heirs grace to exalt France to the height which she was in the time of Charlemagne.”’

  ‘It is not possible,’ said Richard.

  ‘If I were to admit that I would be sounding the death knell to my hopes. Nothing was ever achieved by deciding it cannot be done.’

  ‘So you will begin by snatching the Holy City from Saladin.’

  ‘’Twill be a beginning.’

  ‘I long to be there,’ said Richard. ‘It is inconceivable that the Holy Land can remain in the hands of the Infidel.’

  ‘You long for military glory,’ said Philip. ‘You want your name to resound throughout the world. The greatest of our warriors! It is for this reason you go to the Holy Land?’

  Philip had often been an uncomfortable companion. They were too intimate for hypocrisy. Richard’s was the simpler mind; he was direct, he saw good and bad distinctly. Philip was analytical, intellectual, subtle, seeing many aspects of one question. Their characters were opposing and yet they were a complement to each other.

  Talking to Philip Richard realised that he did indeed seek military glory. He wanted to recover the Holy Land for Christianity but he yearned most to go into battle and win great honours there.

  Philip watched him slyly. There were plans to be made; they had a great deal to talk of.

  They rode out together; they hunted as they had done when Richard was at Philip’s court, a beloved hostage.

  They swore friendship. They would defend each other’s realms and share any gains that came their way during their crusade. They would be as brothers.

  ‘This pleases me,’ said Philip. ‘How I have missed you!’

  They made plans to meet at Messina. But there was work to be done first. Richard must travel through Normandy to inspire more men to follow him and support him with their worldly goods; but they lingered awhile, neither anxious to cut short this interlude. Richard was less sure of his feelings towards Philip than Philip was towards him. In Philip’s eyes Richard was physically perfect. He greatly admired the long Norman limbs, the grace of movement, the blonde good looks, the vitality which was not impaired even by the recurrent attacks of fever. He loved this man and yet at times he hated him. They were friends but theirs was too passionate a relationship to be peaceful. By the very nature of their positions they must be enemies. It was inconceivable that a king of England who was also a duke of Normandy could be regarded with anything but suspicion by a king of France. Normandy was a thorn in the side of all kings of France. It was the secret dream of every king who loved France to bring back Normandy to the crown. How could it be otherwise? The land had been filched from them by the pirate Norsemen and, although that had happened many years before, Normandy to the French would never be anything but theirs. And since William the Conqueror had brought the crown of England to add to the dukedom of Normandy there had seemed less hope of bringing the latter back to France.

  Philip, the realist, was well aware that whatever his personal feelings for Richard he must always work against him. When Henry Plantagenet was alive he had had to reconcile himself to the knowledge that there would never be a conquest of Normandy. It was different now that Richard was king.

  Richard – beloved friend – would be no match for him. He knew it well. Richard should never have agreed to go off and leave his kingdom so soon after acquiring it. Did he not see mean little John straining to get at it? Richard might be the greatest warrior of his age, but what sort of statesman was he? True he would leave his mother to govern for him and she was still a force to be reckoned with.

  How different we are, thought Philip. There he is, my friend and enemy Richard, the strong, the brave and the foolish. He longs to be known as the greatest soldier in Christendom; he may well be that. But a king must be more than a great soldier. He is too simple-hearted, too direct. Oh, Richard Oui et Non, rulers have to prevaricate, to dissemble. It is necessary in this life, my dear friend.

  He himself was subtle and ambitious . . . oh very ambitious. They had not understood him when he was a boy. They had thought him weak and peevish. Perhaps he had been before there had come to him that revelation of what it meant to be a ruler and a ruler of France. From then on he had developed a calm, a subtlety; he refrained from giving voice to his thoughts. He was discreet and sedate. Richard had often been impatient with him, little understanding that when he appeared to be indifferent his mind was working fast and he was seeing into the future perhaps years ahead.

  As they played chess together, Philip deliberately brought up the subject of Alice.

  ‘I doubt not your marriage to my sister will take place ere long.’

  ‘There is much to be done before I can think of marriage,’ replied Richard.

  ‘You are no longer a young man.’

  ‘I am young enough.’

  ‘My sister is not young either.’

  ‘Your sister is no longer a virgin.’

  ‘Thanks to your father.’

  Richard was relieved. He hated subterfuge. He believed that now Philip knew the position he would understand why there could not be a marriage.

  ‘Two are involved in such games,’ he said.

  ‘Children are sometimes lured into them and can scarcely be blamed.’

  ‘The fact remains that she is no longer fit to be my bride.’

  ‘The sister of the King of France not fit for the King of England!’

  ‘Not when she has been whoring with his father.’

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sp; ‘You talk like a peasant, Richard. This is a matter of royal birth not of morals.’

  ‘With me it is a moral issue.’

  ‘Oh, come, have you always led so blameless a life? We will forget Alice’s indiscretions and those of your father. The marriage will take place before we set out.’

  Richard had grown pale. ‘I cannot marry Alice.’

  ‘Oh, you will honour your bonds,’ said Philip. ‘Forget not that you are betrothed.’

  ‘You will release me from the betrothal. I know you will.’

  ‘Do you know me, Richard? How well do you know me? Everyone is not so straightforward as you. Let us shelve this unfortunate matter of your marriage. See, I have put you in check.’

  And so they talked together, often fiercely, often banteringly; and to both of them the coming crusade was enticing and exciting because the other would share it.

  They parted, Richard to make his journey through Normandy, Philip to make further preparation for departure. They would meet at Messina and from there begin together their journey to the Holy Land.

  Eleanor felt young again since she had stepped into freedom. All those years a prisoner! How dared Henry treat her so! But she could laugh at him now, and hers was the last laugh. He was dead, mouldering in his tomb – a king who had once made men tremble – now nothing but dust and ashes while she, nearly twelve years his senior, as he had been fond of reminding her, was preparing to embark on a journey to bring her son’s bride to him.

  She could not resist going to see Alice before she left. She was irritated to notice that meek adaptability which had made Alice such a desirable mistress in Henry’s eyes had now helped her to adjust herself to her new conditions. Surely she must rail against the fact that she, who was once the pampered darling of an indulgent lover, was now the prisoner of his wife. But no, Alice went her placid way, choosing her silken skeins and plying her needle.

  ‘How fares it?’ asked Eleanor.

  ‘I am well, my lady,’ answered Alice.

  ‘So I see. I have come to say farewell to you. I am about to set out on a journey. I am bringing King Richard’s bride to him.’